Perdican (Nicolas Van Burek), a baron’s son, and Camille (Julie Le Gal) the baron’s niece, have loved each other since childhood. The Baron (Raymond Accolas) assumes that when they meet after their years of separate schooling they will marry. Here, however, the pride of the younger generation frustrates the hopes of the older. Camille’s convent education has led her to believe all men are cads, while Perdican’s life away in Paris has led to several affairs. To test Camille’s unexpected coldness, he begins a fling with a peasant girl Rosette (Mélanie Beauchamp).