Set a few years before the 21st century, Mauvais Sang tells the story of Alex, the teenage son of a murdered criminal, who is enlisted by two former associates of his father to steal a valuable serum for an AIDS-like disease. Alex's mission becomes complicated when he begins to fall in love with one of the associates' young mistress and he becomes involved in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a rival gang woman known only as "The American." 'The Night Is Young' was Leos Carax's second film and confirmed his status as one of the most talented young French filmmakers of his generation.