The film opens with a heart-wrenching portrayal of memories, constructed from still images accompanied by the somber narration of a character known simply as The Butcher. Orphaned at a young age, he endures horrific trauma, becoming a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest. As he moves into his teenage years, opportunities to pursue his ambitions slip away, leading him down the dark path of butchering horse meat—an unseemly profession in France during that time.
After years of relentless toil, The Butcher achieves his dream of owning his own shop, coinciding with the birth of his daughter. However, his happiness is short-lived as his girlfriend departs upon realizing their child is a girl. Left alone in a situation rife with challenges, The Butcher resolves to raise his daughter by himself. His feelings of isolation soon spiral into an overwhelming and disturbing possessiveness, pushing him towards unthinkable inclinations regarding his own child.
A moment of tragedy strikes when a crimson stain on his daughter's skirt leads him to a catastrophic error: believing she has been harmed, he acts violently, only to discover later that the blood was simply menstrual. This grave misunderstanding leads to his imprisonment, during which he has to surrender his butcher shop to a Muslim butcher, while his daughter is sent to an institution for her protection.
While incarcerated, The Butcher confronts his past and forms an unexpected connection with a prison cellmate. Once freed, he looks to rebuild his life, taking a job as a bartender at a tavern where he once spent his time. There, he becomes involved with the tavern's owner, and as their relationship grows, they anticipate a future together, especially after she becomes pregnant. Yet, just as he begins to envision a bright future, she sells her business and relocates north, where she intends to help him set up another butcher shop.
When this new partner fails to uphold their plans, The Butcher finds himself working nights in a nursing home, where he meets a compassionate young nurse who starkly contrasts the harshness of his previous mistress. After the death of an elderly resident prompts reflection on his loveless past, The Butcher's frustrations erupt when he is falsely accused of infidelity, leading to an act of violence that could have dire consequences.
Feeling cornered and humiliated, he decides to return to Paris, reclaiming his old living quarters—the same place where he conceived his daughter. Eager to resume his butcher career, he is met with resistance as changing consumer preferences render his expertise nearly obsolete. As he faces repeated job rejections, The Butcher finds himself adrift, fueled by anger and desperation. A visit to a former business connection emphasizes how far he has fallen, leading him to contemplate drastic measures against those he blames for his misfortunes. With only three bullets left in his gun, he prepares to confront the figures representing his shame and despair, setting the stage for a harrowing conclusion.
