A doctor, a businessman, a teacher and all of the other residents of a rural French village during World War Two are unaware of the German occupation that is looming just over the horizon.

Chaos and disease spread as refugees crowd into the village church and the Germans begin imposing harsh rules. Sister Mary is attacked and falls into a coma, Natalina leaves the rectory for the convent.

The local authorities and acting mayor are expected to help the Germans enforce their rules and hand over a sabotage suspect to the invading army, but they cannot control everyone.

A wounded British fighter pilot is found in the woods by Jacques, who tries to take him across the border with German troops hot on his heels. Lucienne worries about an ominous letter addressed to the headmaster, while Raymond gets a big surprise.

On 7 November 1940, during a film showing, the audience takes advantage of the darkness to boo the handshake between Pétain and Hitler. The French police are called in to find the guilty party.

On 11 November 1940, with the help of Suzanne, who is the head of the post office, Marcel launches a campaign to distribute Communist leaflets in town. Very quickly, Jean is on to them.