Sentimental Destinies

Jean Barnery is ordained as a pastor and marries Nathalie, a woman quite unsuited to the pastoral life. He grows more focused on ministry than on the family business, signaling a shift away from the pottery trade. This marriage marks the start of a long, turbulent journey for him.

Nathalie's conduct with another man becomes the subject of gossip, and Jean sends her and their daughter Aline away with an allowance. The separation forces the couple to navigate reputation and responsibility. The move foreshadows the strain that will ripple through their family.

The gossip compounds the sense that a pastor should uphold a tranquil home, so he brings Nathalie and Aline back to the marital home to restore appearances. He acts to reestablish social norms, despite the ongoing personal strain. This return signals a fragile peace rather than true reconciliation.

He meets Pauline Pommerel and loses his heart to her, planting the seed of a new life. This infatuation begins to pull him away from Nathalie and the life they built together. The affair sets in motion the changes that follow.

Jean divorces Nathalie, gives up his pastoral calling, and marries Pauline. The couple moves to a rural chalet in Switzerland, beginning a fresh chapter away from his old life. Their new life signals a dramatic shift in status and ambition.

They live simply on income from Jean's shares, and are happy together, but the ex-pastor is despised by the conservative local community. The warmth of their home contrasts with the cold judgment of their surroundings. The social climate adds strain to their personal happiness.

The Barnery business is faltering; none of the next generation has clout to run it, threatening the family's future. The decline tests the family’s unity and resources. The factory's decline becomes central to their struggles.

When Jean is sounded out, he immediately accepts to be the managing director with a mandate to innovate. He aims to modernize production and steer the company through unsettled times. This new role marks a shift from personal life to corporate leadership.

Pauline is miserable about taking the top role in the family business yet remains loyal to her husband. She accepts the hardship that comes with managing a company and balancing family life. Her support is steady, even as doubt lingers.

With the outbreak of World War I, Jean serves at the front despite tuberculosis, while Pauline nurses wounded soldiers. The war intensifies the couple's commitment and tests their resilience. Their sacrifices highlight the shifting roles within the family.

After the war, he tries to improve quality and efficiency at the factory and to expand sales in the USA, but profits remain elusive and labour relations tense. The industrial landscape is harsh, and progress is slow. The family must navigate new economic realities.

Max seems on the way to playing a role in the business, while Aline descends into smoking, drinking, dancing, and staying out all night. The siblings diverge in path and temperament, underscoring the family's internal tensions. These choices will shape the next generation's prospects.

Aline experiences a volte-face and accepts ordination as a Protestant deaconess. The religious shift contrasts with earlier missteps, signaling a new chapter in her life. The family watches as Aline redefines her vocation.

The 1929 slump hits hard. During a tour of the works, Jean has a fall and from then on is confined to his bed, where he eventually dies. His death marks the end of an era for the Barnery family. The losses of economic crisis compound personal tragedy.

In his last moments, he confesses that most of his life's effort was in vain and that the one true thing was his love for Pauline. The truth of his feelings remains the lasting testament of his life. Pauline's memory becomes the central thread of his final years.