Belgium 1980. On the banks of the Meuse river against the background of a steel-producing city factories close down one after another and lay off workers. One of those made redundant is Fabrice who at thirty-five is proud of his trade rendered mythical by fire and steel but feels he has become useless. His wife Céline tries to renew his interest in life. Despite a few moments of rediscovered happiness Fabrice remains trapped in his confusion and one day disappears. Céline her intense love leading the way goes looking for him and eventually finds him. Once again she tries to save him from himself. Can love resuscitate a languishing man? That is Céline's wager.