This coming-of-age French-Belgian drama features Nicolas and Thierry, uneducated long-time friends, postponing an inevitable trip into military service by camping on the beach. Living next to them are Annie and Francoise, two women who help Nicolas, until events take a turn for the worse when Thierry gets Nicolas involved in a theft.

Diagnosed with leukemia, a successful orchestra conductor learns that he is adopted, and his younger brother is in a village marching band. The conductor decides to help them win a regional contest.