The Universal Theory

Fadel and his colleagues Aziz and Hamdi are trying to make their way in life, and they hold advanced degrees, but luck does not crown their endeavor with success. Fadel visits his aunt Alawiya, who runs a private institute for girls in a traditional way, and asks to work in the institute, but she refuses. The three decide to establish a modern institute, similar to the aunt’s institute. To compete with her, to teach girls to be modern.

A banker who had fallen out with his family stipulated in his will that his fortune should only pass to the person in possession of the five keys he distributed to his relatives during his lifetime 80 years after his death. Only with all five keys can the cassette in the vault of a bank be opened, granting access to the deceased's assets. 75 years after the banker's death, the fugitive crook Murphy comes into possession of one of the keys, together with a list of the names of the owners of the four remaining keys. Over the next five years, he manages to obtain two more keys by criminal means. Now he just has to get the fourth key from Carlo and the fifth key from the young, rich widow Maria. Any means will do. But the unscrupulous villain has not reckoned with Carlo's shrewdness, who initially falls under suspicion himself, but then takes up the pursuit of the criminal.

A married farmer falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife.

A Spanish soldier falls under the spell of a fiery gypsy girl named Carmen. His obsession with her leads to his ruin.

A weekend at a marquis’ country château lays bare some ugly truths about a group of haut bourgeois acquaintances.