Louise, a widow, lives with her son Patrice and her daughter Isabelle-Marie in a house in the country. All her affection is directed towards her son, who is socially dysfunctional but very handsome. In contrast, Louise neglects her daughter, whom she considers ugly. However, their small, obsessed universe is soon interrupted by a blind boy and an elegant fop from the outside world.

Three generations of a wealthy Bordeaux family are caught in the crossfire when Anne decides to run for mayor, thanks to a political pamphlet that revives an old murder scandal.