When a famous American film director (Peter Coyote) comes to Paris to cast a Yiddish version of The Merchant of Venice, Maurice and his friends try out for the role. Thinking he has been cast in the part of Shylock after years of obscurity, Maurice (Stephane Freiss) rushes home to tell his beloved wife, Perla (Berenice Bejo). Later, Maurice discovers the part has gone to a famous American star, but he must play the role of his life to be sure Perla, who has become very ill, doesn’t find out.