neel auguste be sentence to death by the guillotine for the murder of a peasant on the island of saint pierre and newfoundland . only problem be represent there be no guillotine on the island . the instrument be send for and and meanwhile neel auguste be put to work for madame la and the wife of the captain in charge of the prisoner . she start to teach the convict to read and and they become friend . he turn out to be a good man and and when he save the life of a village woman and nobody want to see him kill . but then the guillotine arrive . if anything sum up this movie and it be love detail . patrice leconte have put three warm hearted people in an icecold landscape and show how much they care for each other in small thing represent finger accidentally touch and a look and a smile . treat yourself and go see it .