1955, un internat en Belgique. Laurent Matagne, 17 ans, croit discerner sous l'identité de son professeur de français surnommé "Vapeur", son père disparu lors d'un raid aérien pendant la guerre 40. Vapeur est excentrique, mystérieux, inquiétant, brillant, et il communique vite à Laurent sa passion pour la littérature, au point de susciter chez lui une vocation d'écrivain. Matagne et son ami Boulette décident de mener l'enquête. Alors qu'ils échafaudent un plan pour confondre Vapeur, Matagne s'attèle à son premier roman.

In 19th century, a disillusioned priest helps a young boy drifter who's a chess wunderkind to move on up in life and social structures using his talent. Years later, he's a success, but game of life and love has higher stakes than chess.

Andre starts as a teacher in a remote mountain village in Albania. His first task is to choose one of two communist slogans. He picks the shorter one, which is appreciated by his class, because they have to build the slogan on the hillside using whitewashed rocks. However, this means that the longer slogan goes to Diana, the French teacher to whom Andre is attracted. Andre gets on the wrong side of the communist party boss of the village, when he stands up for an unjustly accused goat herdsman, whom he had befriended. The boss is determined to take his revenge on Andre.

In 19th century, a disillusioned priest helps a young boy drifter who's a chess wunderkind to move on up in life and social structures using his talent. Years later, he's a success, but game of life and love has higher stakes than chess.

During a family reunion in 2000, guests decide to read out laud their "Where I See Myself in 10 Years" wish lists which they wrote down during their 1990 family reunion.

1955, un internat en Belgique. Laurent Matagne, 17 ans, croit discerner sous l'identité de son professeur de français surnommé "Vapeur", son père disparu lors d'un raid aérien pendant la guerre 40. Vapeur est excentrique, mystérieux, inquiétant, brillant, et il communique vite à Laurent sa passion pour la littérature, au point de susciter chez lui une vocation d'écrivain. Matagne et son ami Boulette décident de mener l'enquête. Alors qu'ils échafaudent un plan pour confondre Vapeur, Matagne s'attèle à son premier roman.