In 1935-1936, at the height of the rise of Nazism, charming Solal, who works at the League of Nations in Geneva, decides to seduce beautiful Ariane, a protestant aristocrat and the wife of his subordinate Adrien. Ariane is quick to fall under Solal's spell, but their passion is quickly put to the test. Solal believes in absolute love, while Ariane believes in love that can be shared in daily life. Their contradictory desires lead the two lovers toward a tragic fate.