In the 19th century, a pious young woman leaves home to follow a vagabond.

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In southern France during the 19th century, a crippled vagabond knocks on the door of a bourgeois house and is given shelter. Taking advantage of his host’s absence, he rapes the daughter of the house and escapes. Against all expectations, the girl follows him and goes with him into the forest. Willingly or by force?

Based on real events dating to 1865, this mystery was investigated by French journalist Marcela Iacub in an article published a few years ago. This framework allows director Benoît Jacquot to create a fascinating look at the transforming power of passionate love; half bewitchment and half necessary evil.