The Immortal Story (1968)

In the twilight of the 19th century, amidst the hushed whispers and vibrant chaos of the Portuguese colony of Macao, resides the affluent yet solitary Mr. Clay. An elderly merchant hardened by years in China and hardened further by his ruthless business tactics, he's an object of town gossip and general disdain. He is oblivious to the world's disdain, or perhaps simply indifferent, finding his only companionship in Elishama, his loyal clerk of seven years. The humdrum of their evenings are spent with Elishama reading company accounts, a peculiar bedtime story for the wealthy merchant, before they delve into a haunting tale that has floated around the seafaring community. The tale, a blend of wealth, youth, and desire, speaks of an old, wealthy businessman, his young wife, and a sailor. Despite the tale's widespread familiarity, they believe it to be nothing more than an old sailor's legend. Yet, Mr. Clay, a believer in history rather than prophecy, is intrigued and decides to make this tale come true, fashioning himself as the central character. With Elishama entrusted to find a young woman to play the wife, and Mr. Clay venturing into the labyrinthine streets of Macao to find the sailor, the stage is set. Virginie, a woman with a history interwoven with the house Mr. Clay now owns, is chosen to play the wife, despite her deep-rooted disdain for the man. The sailor, a young Danish adventurer named Paul, is convinced to play his part, drawn by motivations of his own. As the tale begins to take shape in reality, the players are locked in a dance of intrigue, manipulation and secret motives. The question that looms over is whether Mr. Clay, Virginie, Paul, or even Elishama, will find what they are looking for, or if the prophecy they seek to create will craft a destiny of its own. The Immortal Story is a fascinating exploration of life, legend, and the blurry divide between.

The Immortal Story is a drama movie featuring Jeanne Moreau.

The Immortal Story is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Immortal Story on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.