At a war crimes trial in an African country, an idealistic lawyer delves into the past of a man who, accused of committing unspeakable atrocities, is treated as an inhuman monster.

Bila, a young peasant, decides to go to Ivory Coast to work and is asked by his parents to accompany Pogbi who is going to meet her fiancé, through an arranged marriage, for the first time. However, Pogbi is in love with Rasmane, a pariah from the smiths' caste, and runs away.