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.