François Truffaut's DAY FOR NIGHT is the French master's tender, humorous love letter to the cinema. Stepping in front of the camera, Truffaut plays Ferrand, a director who's embarking on his latest production, a melodrama entitled MEET PAMELA. As the cast and crew convene at the Victorine Studio in Nice, a family is formed, but unlike most families, this one is only temporary. There's the gorgeous American actress (Jacqueline Bisset), the love-struck young lead (Jean-Pierre Leaud), the aging alcoholic (Valentina Cortese), and the unheralded crew (grips, technicians, etc.). Along the way, those involved in the production start to feel as if the events in their real lives are coming straight out of the movies, filled with romance, tragedy, melodrama, and a dash of slapstick.

As with the best works of art, Truffaut's film doesn't exist merely to provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the tumultuous craft of filmmaking. While Truffaut doesn't shy away from revealing some of cinema's most magical tricks--such as how action sequences are shot and how artificial snow is created--the film also works on a more universal level, addressing issues to which everyone can relate. But ultimately, the moviemaking sequences are what make DAY FOR NIGHT such an unforgettable experience.