Henri Billen

Set in an imaginary country where the trombone orchestra is the heart of power and photographs have a natural size that limits the number of trombone players that can appear on their official picture.

In 19th century, a disillusioned priest helps a young boy drifter who's a chess wunderkind to move on up in life and social structures using his talent. Years later, he's a success, but game of life and love has higher stakes than chess.

Claude and Pierre are brother and sister yet it is apparent early on that they are physically attracted to each other. In order to suborn their feelings they enter into relationships with others but nothing they do seems to work - they are always drawn back to their same fatal attraction.