French Algeria, 1925: Germaine and Marius are young and in love. Marius works for a branch of the Bank of France. They just got married and have everything they need for a happy life ahead. The next year, little Henri is born. Six years later, his sister Simone arrives. But when she dies suddenly at the age of 5, the couple is devastated. Other children follow, life goes on, but the dull ache of bereavement haunts Germaine all her life.
Despite her grief, Germaine gets up and keeps going with a great deal of courage. Caught up in the events of her era, she's had a hard life, but remains a feminist ahead of her time, taking her fate into her own hands.