Luxembourg, October 1830. Unrest spreads in the region in the wake of the Belgian Revolution. Fed up with the domination of the Dutch, most of the people want to become Belgian. Those who want an independent Luxembourg are few. Among them a town clerk obstinately refuses to accept the Belgian nationality. Considered as a traitor, he is forced to go into exile. A few years later, in 1839, Luxembourg finally becomes independent.

Mill, an undertaker and farmer, and Felten, the organist of the church, live in a small Luxembourg village near the Belgian border. They have been friends for long and have sworn to stand by each other through thick and thin. But this pledge will be challenged both by their love rivalry for Josette and by the War that comes over the village and upsets their lives.