Marseille in 1955. Robert is a docker while Marcelle is employed in a biscuit factory. Both seek an apartment, but times are hard. Jean, Robert's brother, is secretary of the dockers' union. The Indochina war aroused strong opposition among them, who refused the transport of arms and colonial troops. On the advice of Jo, one of his colleagues, Robert tries to dissociate himself from his fellow union members to facilitate his search for an apartment. He quickly opposes his brother, resolutely engaged in the strike movement, but also Marcelle, who soon married the ideas of Jean.