set represent island of st. pierre off of france ( part of french republic ) in the year 1849 50. plot represent a guillotine name the widow be be bring over to the island from france to execute a man who at the beginning of the movie get so drunk he kill a man without any deep human evil a motive . the problem be st. pierre be a gentle community and have no executioner that not even any of their sailor would bring any to the island . no executioner and no head . madame la ( juliette binoche ) be such a gentle soul living there who believe the man be good and useful to the community but also hide under the surface be innocently sexually obsess with the man before she even really meet him which be what much of the community think she be lean toward and especially some bore debutante which be like counterpart to juliette character . her husband be the warden of the penitentiary ( daniel auteuil ) under paris headquarters but technically have jurisdiction because they be not in paris so he allow the condemn to be at his wife disposal because he support her and they love each other and which be see a sign of weakness by the ferocious paris french republic put pressure on the local republic make such question arise represent do human make the law or do the law make u . surely nobody in st. pierre not have endure the repression of france need to make example by collect head except for the cowardly governor and admiral who be pay to appear strong . of course there a quote ( i forget who it belong ) and and i be paraphrase say real strength be have the power to destroy and but choose not to . madame la lust for the condemn be no exception to this rule her love have conquer all .