Frédéric Hulné

Au milieu de nulle part, une cité ouvrière vidée de sa population depuis quelques années déjà. Pourtant, certains habitants ont décidé d'y rester, plus par choix que par nécessité, parce que c'est là qu'ils sont nés et qu'ils ont grandi. Parmi eux il y a Francis, l'ouvrier consciencieux qui continue d'entretenir la machine sur laquelle il a travaillé toute sa vie ; Samir, son fils.

This tale of childhood and adolescence is told through brief sequences that take place in the life of a modest family from the Pas-de-Calais region during the forties, fifties and sixties. Paul, the main character, who we meet when he’s 5, 13 and 18, is the throughline of this tale told in a fragmentary way well adapted to the scattered nature of memories.

Summer 1890. In order to make some money to feed his family, Anton Chekhov, modest physician, wrote short stories for newspapers to sign Antosha Tchékhonté. Important characters, writer and editor, just make him aware of his talent. His situation is improving and Anton Chekhov gets the Pushkin prices and admiration of Tolstoy. But when one of his brothers died of tuberculosis, Anton saw it as a personal failure and wants to escape his fame and his love.

Salif, an 18-year-old Mauritanian, lands clandestinely in France. His parents gave him a mission: find his older brother who lives in Paris and send him news. A search that will prove to be especially complicated and dangerous.

Young, beautiful Nelly Solaro vacations at Lake Como and is surprised by the arrival of her brother Eugène, after a long separation. They realize of their effect on the wealthy and seduce several. But their dark love catches up with them.

Josephine Delamarre is a guardian angel that Heaven sends to earth. With her psychological insight, ability of persuasion and magical powers, she manages to help people who have problems. She appears at the beginning of each mission; when the mission is completed, she disappears with a click of her fingers.