Germain (Gérard Depardieu) lives in the charming traditional French village where he was born. A semiliterate fifty-something whose home is a trailer on his mother's front lawn, he is the epitome of unfulfillment. Yet despite jibes from his friends and a poisonous relationship with his mother stunting his self-confidence, he's never been one to make a fuss about life's injustices. Indeed, he finds comfort in the little things, be it tending to his vegetable patch, carving wood figurines, or feeding the pigeons in the local park. It is in this latter routine that Germain meets Margueritte (Gisèle Casadesus), a sweet elderly lady with a kind heart and a passion for words. What begins as a chance encounter soon turns into a regular engagement, as Germain finds himself drawn to Margueritte's candid wit and zest for life and literature. Thriving on the wisdom and charity of his newfound friend and on the great French novels that she reads to him, Germain gains a fresh perspective and the strength to alter the course of his life.