In the 30s and 40s, the Plouffe are a typical Quebec City family caught in the turmoil of WWII and economic woes. The movie follows the often difficult lives of all family members. Theophile, the father, is a former cycling champion now working in a printing house. Close to his retirement, this ardent nationalist fiercely opposes the draft, and simply refuses to see his sons get killed in the war. The eldest, Napoleon, is looking for a job and maybe a wife too. Guillaume, the athlete, lives only for baseball. Ovide, destined by his mother to enter the priesthood, is an Opera-lover and the intellectual amongst them. At forty-two, Cecile is still single and secretly in love with a married bus driver, despite the scandalous nature of their relationship. Josephine, the devoted and pious mother, tries to protect her children.