Text in Arabic. Jean Peloueyre, heir to an extensive estate in southern France, is a maladroit, misshapen, misbegotten young man. The very antithesis of a hero, Jean is very much in need of saving.

When his father arranges for him to marry a young girl, Naomi, upon the suggestion of the village priest, he is delighted by the prospect of finally being in love but weary since the girl agrees to marry him without having seen him first. Jean and his young bride, leprous, unenlightened souls, find redemption in the punishment that makes them -- and us -- whole.