For a few months I investigated. I went to see sedentary people. I asked them to tell me about their life, about the schedule of their days. These are people who spend their lives at home. Whether they have to or not is not important. What matters here is how they cope with their lot what they do with it, don't do with it. How they find or do not find their salvation far from their neighbors.

In the French harbor city of Le Havre, fate throws young African refugee Idrissa into the path of Marcel Marx, a well-spoken bohemian who works as a shoe-shiner. With innate optimism and the tireless support of his community, Marcel stands up to officials pursuing the boy for deportation.

Nicole, nurse in Grenoble, is raped one night by four men. Deeply scarred, emotionally and physically, she thinks she will never recover from the trauma. Following a friend's advice, she decides to file a lawsuit.