La Carcasse, an obtuse peasant, lives with his wife Lucie and his father-in-law Tord-cou. At odds with his son-in-law, the Tord-cou takes it into his head to marry Thérésa, the daughter of their neighbor Casimir. But the Carcass, too, feels attracted to the young woman...
On the banks of the Rhône, not far from Tain l'Hermitage, Alcide Garonne, an old ferryman - and incidentally a poacher - lives out of wedlock with Victorine Rousset nicknamed Maryse, a colorful tramp. When Garrone's son, Pilou, a worker, falls in love with Augusta, the mayor's daughter, the unconventional old couple tries to protect the unconventional young pair from the disapproval of self righteous villagers.