It's the turn of the nineteenth into twentieth century in the French town of Belleville. Marie runs within a crowd of criminals. She ends up being the center of a battle between three men for her "affections", or in some cases what they consider their form of affection. One is Félix Leca, the head of the gang who has a legitimate business of being a wine merchant beyond his criminal activities and who is shielded from any legal jeopardy in being friends with Police Inspector Giuliani. Two is Roland Dupuis, one of Leca's thugs. Officially, Marie is Roland's "possession" with Leca feeling he can "buy" her in Roland and Marie having a falling out of sorts. That falling out was due to three, Georges Manda, an old friend of Raymond, another in the gang. While Georges and Raymond knew each other in prison, Manda has gone straight in becoming a carpenter, while Raymond, despite his continuing criminal activity, considers Manda the only person who he would trust with his life. Manda's attraction to Marie is despite he already being engaged. Marie and Roland's falling out was solely due to Marie showing Manda some consideration when Raymond introduced him to the gang in a social setting. Marie may have her own thoughts of who she truly wants to be with, which may place her and his life in jeopardy.
—Huggo