In Occupied France during World War II, Jean Aurenche and Jean Devaivre are both employed in the film industry. Parisian Aurenche works as a screenwriter, when not juggling his various mistresses. Angry with the German occupation, he attempts to keep on with his work while resisting all overtures to write for the Nazi Party. Family man Devaivre is an assistant director in one of the Boulogne studios. Forced to work for the German-run production company Continental, Devaivre finds his own methods of subtle defiance. Then one day he's given the chance to pass some important Nazi documents on to the Resistance. He takes the risk. While the two men barely know each other, both find ways to undermine the Germans while living under the occupation.