In the French countryside, Cesar (Yves Montand) and his nephew Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) scheme to acquire a neighboring farm by preventing a natural spring from flowing, a water source that the new owner, Jean (Gérard Depardieu), needs for his crops. Their act of sabotage causes Jean, a sensitive dreamer, untold anguish, but they persist with their plan to drive him out until things take a tragic turn in this award-winning drama.