Memoir of War

In the summer of 1944, as Allied armies advance towards Paris, Robert Antelme is arrested by the German occupying forces. This event shatters his wife Marguerite's life, leaving her distressed and desperate for answers about her husband's whereabouts.

In her turmoil, Marguerite meets a French collaborator working for the Gestapo. He slyly offers a potential link to Robert's fate in exchange for information about a prominent resister, François Morland, revealing his own interest in Marguerite.

Faced with the collaborator's proposition, Marguerite seeks counsel from Dionys Mascolo, the leader of the resistance network and her lover. Together they weigh the risks, and Marguerite ultimately decides to engage with the collaborator despite her reservations.

Marguerite begins a series of routine encounters with the collaborator, who brings her scarce provisions and fine wine. Throughout these meetings, she maintains her resolve by refusing to divulge any information or partake in any illicit activities.

During one of their discussions, the collaborator reveals that Robert has been sent to a concentration camp in Germany. This disclosure deepens Marguerite's anguish, adding to the heavy weight of uncertainty about her husband's safety.

With the liberation of Paris and the dissolution of the Gestapo, the resistance's focus shifts to uncovering the fates of their arrested colleagues. Marguerite joins the efforts to assist the families of the imprisoned, all while holding onto hope.

In the spring of 1945, Allied forces begin liberating the concentration camps. As information surfaces about who has survived, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation and dread as Marguerite awaits news of Robert.

After an exhausting wait filled with emotional turmoil, Marguerite learns that Robert is gravely ill in Dachau. The uncertainty is overwhelming, as she grapples with the realization that his life hangs by a thread.

With help from Dionys and François Morland, Marguerite makes arrangements to retrieve Robert from the concentration camp. Their collaborative effort highlights the bond of resistance and the lengths they will go to save each other.

Once Robert regains enough strength, Marguerite decides to take him on a holiday to Italy. It's a well-deserved respite that allows them to reconnect, but the shadow of their experiences looms over their time together.

Upon returning to Paris, Marguerite makes the heart-wrenching decision to divorce Robert. This choice signifies the profound changes they have both undergone as a result of their experiences during the war.