When a young girl is found raped and murdered in a slumbering fishing community, the chief of police, Frederique Lesage (the beautiful Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi), identifies René, a washed-up artist (Jacques Gamblin), as the primary suspect. His seemingly devoted wife Viviane (Sandrine Bonnaire) supports him in the face of rumors, while simultaneously conducting an illicit liaison with a celebrity writer. René and Viviane's lives come under close scrutiny, which puts further strain on their volatile relationship. Meanwhile, Frederique becomes better acquainted with the eccentric residents of the town, including a self-important TV journalist (Antoine de Caunes), a small-time crook who fences stolen goods (Pierre Martot), and a curious pair of married shopkeepers (Bulle Ogier and Noel Simsolo).
