Séverine Serizy (Catherine Deneuve) loves her husband Pierre (Jean Sorel) but finds herself frigid to his sexual advances. Instead, she engages in erotic fantasies that lead her to seek afternoon work as a prostitute in Madame Anais' (Geneviève Page) brothel. In doing so, Severine is forced to exorcise some demons in her life.
Belle de Jour is a 1928 novel by French author Joseph Kessel. The novel was adapted for the movie by Spanish film-maker Luis Buñuel and French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière.
Literally, it translates as "beautiful lady of the day". However, the title in a pun in French. The phrase "belle de nuit" is best translated as "lady of the night", i.e. a prostitute. Séverine works as a prostitute during the day, so she is a "belle de jour". "Belle de jour" is also the French name for the morning glory (Convolvulus tricolor).
