Histoire du caporal

The film follows a French peasant who has served as a corporal on the front lines for three years. Overwhelmed by the brutality of war, he decides to go AWOL and escapes into the Alps, seeking solitude and survival in the vast landscape.

As he navigates the challenges of living off the land, he faces the constant threat of being discovered by the police searching for deserters. Another deserter briefly joins him but cannot handle the isolation and leaves, highlighting the psychological toll of their circumstances. The film's subdued tone emphasizes the monotony of the peasant's existence while making a statement on pacifism and the impact of war.