In 1905, Protestant minister Jean Barnery separates from his wife, which causes a scandal
in their small community of Barbazac. He decides to get a divorce and leave Switzerland
with Pauline, the niece of a friend. But when his uncle dies, leaving him a porcelain
factory, Jean yields to family pressure and returns to manage the factory in Limoges -
much to the dismay of his new wife Pauline.