Damien Hauer (Jean-Pierre Bacri) is a professor of Chinese civilization. But now he has a problem. He has promised Iva Delusi (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas), his life companion, to ask his father Sébastien Hauer (Claude Rich), a state councilor, to intervene in favor of Zorica Aurore (Isabelle Carré), an illegal alien. In theory, Sébastien is influential enough to keep Zorica from being deported, but the trouble is that he has always despised his son. As for Damien, he hates his father. It looks as if Zorica is not on track to stay in the country for much longer.