The film is set in Marais, a quiet region along the banks of Loire river in 1918. Riton is afflicted with a bad-tempered wife and three unruly children. Garris lives alone with his recollections of World War I trenches. Their daily life consists of seasonal work and visits from their two pals: Tane, the local train conductor and Amédée, a dreamer and voracious reader of classics.
Jacques Villeret
Henri Pignol, aka Riton
Jacques Gamblin
Garriss
André Dussollier
Amédée
Michel Serrault
Hyacinthe Richard, aka 'Pépé la Rainette'
Isabelle Carré
Marie
Éric Cantona
Joseph "Jo" Sardi
Suzanne Flon
Cri-Cri Pignol, aged
Jacques Dufilho
Old man
