Strayed

Set during the early stages of World War II in France, the story unfolds as German forces drive toward Paris. Civilians flee en masse, the roads are bombed, and temporary refuges become lifelines. An armistice follows the day-to-day struggle, reshaping the characters' choices and destinies. The time frame anchors the tension between survival, security, and moral ambiguity.

The film moves from the crowded exits near Paris into the open French countryside. A forest shelter and a large, abandoned country retreat become the temporary home for Odile and her children. The setting shifts between the bleak war outside and the fragile domestic space they carve out, then ends in a refugee camp as the war encroaches again.

🕯️ Survival

A makeshift home in a war-torn landscape becomes a fragile sanctuary for Odile, her children, and Yvan. The four strangers adapt routines, sharing food, chores, and hopes while the world outside remains dangerous. The shelter's comfort is a temporary illusion that is constantly tested by scarcity and fear. The film treats survival as both physical and emotional endurance.

🤝 Trust

Yvan's practical skills and protective presence quickly redefine the group's dynamic, making him indispensable. Odile's initial suspicion gradually yields to reliance as he proves loyal and capable. The bond among them blossoms into a makeshift family torn between dependence and fear of betrayal. Past secrets and looming danger continually threaten that trust.

💘 Love and Power

Odile and Yvan's relationship develops beyond caretaker and child-adjacent protector into a complex, adult bond. The romance is marked by power imbalances—Yvan's youth and Odile's vulnerability amid a precarious refuge. Their intimacy introduces moral ambiguity and raises questions about consent, shelter, and longing under pressure. The union ultimately collides with the harsh realities outside their walls.

🗺️ Identity and Past

Yvan's true name, Jean Delmas, and his history as a fugitive from Mettray surface as the group confronts the lies that kept them safe. Odile's decision to shield him from the police underscores how memory and truth can be sacrificed for survival. The revelation fragmenting their fragile shelter culminates in tragedy, forcing the characters to confront who they really are.