1962, during the Cold War, France under Charles the Gaulle focuses on the deployment of own nuclear weapons. The algerian war has been finished directly, when other nucelar test are run in the Sahara. Phillipe, a young lieutnant and protegé of a ministerial officer, and three other soldiers protect the savety-zone in Taourit, where a nuclear bomb shall be detonated submontane. As a result of the detonation, a nuclear cloud rises and the men wait for their command to come back vainly. In camp they become quarantined- the military command tries to hide this accident. Phillipe fells betrayed, but nobody, even not his godfather Antoine who has an affair with Phillip´s mother, supports him. Phillipes Mother Louise is shocked, abondons the relationship with Antoine and travels back to Paris. The four soldiers are bound to hold their tongues and sent back to France. Bevor that there is a final checkup, where they get holded on and probably there is no much time to life for them.