Philippe Garrel's Les baisers de secours | Emergency Kisses (1989)

'Navel-gazing' is one expression used for this film, which is about a film maker whose wife falls out with him to such an extent that she leaves him and the husband has talks with his father, who says that a child can bring a couple together. Here, the film maker is the director himself, Philippe Garrel playing Mathieu, married to Jeanne (played by Brigitte Sy, Garrel's real partner), the son is Lo (Louis Garrel, the couple's real son). And, for good measure, Mathieu's father is played by the actor Maurice Garrel, Philippe's real father.

And the central argument is that Mathieu has given the leading role in a film to Minouchette (Anémone), and Brigitte is fuming that he hasn't given it to herself. A long scene in which there is an argument between Brigitte and Anémone is fascinating, as is Louis Garrel's advice given to his son.