The Widow Of Saint-Pierre

In the year 1850, on the island of Saint-Pierre, close to the shores of Canada, a man is assassinated. Though the accused, Neel Auguste (Kusturica) is condemed to death, the island has no means to carry out the sentence.

With a request to the French government, a guillotine is sent, but its arrival will take some time. So Neel must wait under the watchful eye of the islands Captain (Auteuil). The Captian's wife, Madame La (Binoche) takes pity on Neel and hopes that he will be rehabilitated, accepted by the citizians and set free. And although her hopes seem to be coming true, the guillotine will soon arrive to serve its purpose.