This is the story of a frail but never discouraged woman who falls in love with her landlord, bears him seven children, and then raises them alone. The film provides a vivid picture of a harsh village life in the south of France where life is measured by the four seasons. The patriarchal father makes occasional appearances at home, only to take the mother upstairs. Seen at a distance from the children′s point of view, he is a father who works his children like horses on the farm, lecturing them on frugality. The outside world where he comes from seems hostile and unfamiliar, while the deep love of a strict mother determines the tone of rural life susceptible to the unforgiving rules of nature. As it is implied in the dedication to her mother at the end of the credits that roll with Adamo′s moving song, this is an autographical film. The brilliant performance of Dominique Reymond is convincing as she plays a mother who overcomes personal despair with the love for her children. (K. Jin Yoon)