The children of a small European mountain village end up being its only residents, soon after the adults cannot take their behavior any longer.

A young journalist (Lespert) helps the French President compile his memoirs.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a young man from the upper middle class tries to escape the constraints of his family.

Sucre Amer tells the story of a unique court case in which an event from the past is judged by a court of history. Major figures from history are brought together in the present to re-examine the "Ignace case", about a legendary figure in the history of Guadeloupe who fought against the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte to preserve his freedom. A hero despite himself, Ignace's life and struggle were subsequently consigned to oblivion by his enemies. His treatment has left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of the people of Guadeloupe.

In the days following the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, a British platoon leader named Saul (Gabriel Byrne) and his corporal (Paul Wyett) reach an isolated farmhouse and encounter a beautiful French girl named Belle (Marianne Basler). Love blooms between Saul and Belle, but the grim realities of war catch up with them when a French Resistance trio claims that Belle is a Nazi collaborator. Judge Reinhold appears briefly as the token Yank.

Clément, a young entrepreneur, is a happy father: married to the beautiful Alex, he is also the happy father of "Petit-Bonheur", his son. Despite his 30 years, he can't live without his father, Paul, a musician and widower, with whom he has a very close relationship. In addition to this exclusive relationship, the latter also takes care of his grandson on a regular basis. Two points which are not without provoking a certain jealousy in Alex. One day, "Petit-Bonheur", under Paul's care, falls down a staircase. At the hospital, where the child undergoes X-rays, Clément can't stand the wait for the exams and reprimands his father harshly. After this incident, the news is fortunately good: "Petit-Bonheur" has nothing serious and finds with joy the arms of his parents. Clément then realizes that his father has disappeared.