Released from prison after a 15-year sentence, Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) moves in with her younger sister, Léa (Elsa Zylberstein), a college literature instructor with a loving husband named Luc (Serge Hazanavicius) and two adorable adopted daughters. Juliette, affectless, chain-smoking, wrapped in a bulky overcoat, drifts through her sister’s house in the French city of Nancy like a restless ghost, unsettling the inhabitants as she struggles to emerge from a state of moral and spiritual limbo.  On the surface, I've Loved You So Long is about Juliette's re-integration into society. First, there's the human contact with her sister's family. Then there's socialization with Léa's friends, followed by job interviews and employment. Finally, there's the leap of faith that accompanies moving beyond the protective circle and stepping out on her own. As her life moves forward, we gradually grow to understand who she has become. But her past remains shrouded in mystery until Léa begins an investigation.