In rural France during WWI, the women of the Paridier farm grapple with the workload while the men are off at the front. Meanwhile, matriarch Hortense reluctantly welcomes in mysterious orphan Francine. But the community’s newfound independence will be disturbed when the men return on short leave.

Xavier Beauvois’ vivid WWI drama is a fiercely compassionate portrayal of the quiet toll of war on the home front. Caroline Champetier’s (Annette) lush cinematography, reminiscent of paintings by Monet and Renoir, imbues the French countryside with a melancholy that pulses beneath the surface.