Fresh Water for Flowers

Violette finds her book left at her window, and wonders about Julien’s life. She opens the cemetery and reflects on the many cats that live there. Some are named after their deceased owners while others are named after Elvis’s songs. She arrives back home to find the gravediggers Nono and Elvis talking with the priest, Father Cédric, about Gaston’s clumsiness. They are at ease with each other, and Cédric laughs at Nono’s stories. After the gravediggers leave, Cédric and Violette discuss faith.

The narration returns to Violette’s past with Philippe. She is utterly in love, powered by their passionate sex life. Violette supports them both with her waitressing job. One day, Philippe’s parents arrive at their apartment, and they discover that Violette is pregnant. Philippe and his mother talk about Violette as if she isn’t there. The next day, he announces that his parents have found work for them as level-crossing keepers.

In the present day, Violette observes the gravediggers: Gaston has fallen into an open grave. She also reflects on some of her other visitors, living and dead. Many are widowed lovers whose attempts to grieve their married lovers are scorned by the deceased’s families. In one instance, two extramarital lovers were buried separately from each other.