Jimmy Rivière is a young gypsy living in travelers camp; his adoptive father, a Pentecostalist preacher, urges him to be christened and lead a life of sacrifice in the name of the Lord. But Jimmy is crazy about boxing and his coach has planned a match. Besides, the young man tells his girlfriend that when he gets married, his bride absolutely must be a "girl who has never slept with a boy before," much to her displeasure. Hence Jimmy's dilemma: sacrifices in the name of the Lord or life temptations.