Intheearly1920s,GeorgesLaffont(RomainDuris),traumatisedbythehorrifictrenchwarfar,decidestoleavehislifebehindandtraveltoWestAfricaintothevastterritoriesofUpperVoltainthecompanyofDiofo,artistandalsosurvivoroftheGreatWar.Fromvillagetovillage,GeorgesusesDiofo'stalentsasagriottorecruitthevillagersaslabourforplantationsinGhana.Buthisadventureleadshimtoadead-end,andhecomesbacktoPariswhereisbrotherMarcel(GrégoryGadebois),awarinvalid,liveswiththeirmother's.AfterthewarinEurope,lifewentoutwithouthim.Georgeswilldesperatelytrytofindhisplace,withthehelpofHélène(CélineSalette),asignlanguageteacherwithwhomhewillhaveatumultuousrelationship,andhisfamily,thatheselfishlyleftbehind.Hewillfinallyattempttohealtheirwounds,andhis.