France, 1942. During the Nazi Occupation, the Ardennes falls in the "forbidden zone" between the German Occupied North and the Vichy governed South. Its inhabitants face starvation as movement of people and supplies into the area are strictly controlled. To save his family, Clovis risks his life crossing the boundary to get hold of potatoes which he intends to plant in a patch of unused land. Knowing that his family's survival depends on the success of his scheme, Clovis becomes increasingly obsessed with his crop of potatoes.