Etienne Alexis, a candidate for the presidency of the new Europe, is a pompous scientist promoting artificial insemination. However, while hosting a picnic, he encounters a young, modern peasant woman, Nénette, and learns that science sometimes does not have all the answers.

Recalling the sun-swept pastoral scenes of his father’s paintings, this late work by Jean Renoir turned his focus to the dichotomy between science and the forces of nature. A deeply personal drama from one of cinema’s finest filmmakers reaching the logical conclusion of his artistic project.