In the French Alps village of Saint-Martin, during the year 1945, Sébastien (a nine-year-old orphan) lives with César, his adoptive "grandfather". They await César's daughter Angélina, who, having fought with the Resistance until the end of the war, is coming home by plane. On the journey, Angélina's plane crashes in the Italian Alps, apparently with no survivors. César breaks the news to Sébastien, who refuses to accept she has perished.