This simple tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has recently fallen inlove with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in the chic but embattled umbrella shop of her mother. On the day before Guy is really to leave in Algeria for a excursion of struggle, he and Geneviève create love. She becomes pregnant and must select from accepting an offer of marriage or looking forward to the reunite of Guy.