The Blood of Others

In Nazi-occupied France, Jean Blomart sits by Hélène's bedside as she lies dying. This opening scene frames the story as a memory-driven drama. The film then shifts into a series of flashbacks that reveal how they met and fell in love.

A young Jean is consumed by guilt over his privileged middle-class life. He joins the Communist Party to seek purpose and breaks away from his family to chart his own path. This decision sets him on a radical, self-made course that haunts his later choices.

After the death of a friend in a political protest, Jean quits the Party and focuses on trade union activism. He channels his energy into organizing workers and shaping a more pragmatic form of resistance. The change marks a move from ideological pursuit to practical action.

Hélène works as a young designer in her family's confectionery shop and begins to chafe at conventional romance with fiancé Paul. She longs for a life that feels freer and more meaningful. Her dissatisfaction foreshadows the unconventional path her love life will take.

She contrives to meet Jean, and though he initially rejects her, they begin a relationship after she has an abortion following a reckless liaison with another man. The abortion marks a pivotal, painful moment turning point in their bond. Their evolving relationship deepens as they confront love and responsibility.

Jean tells Hélène he loves her, even though he believes the feeling may be unreciprocated. He proposes, and she accepts, signaling a fragile commitment amid their turbulent lives. The moment binds them together against a backdrop of social upheaval.

When France enters World War II, Jean joins the army, recognizing the need for decisive action. Hélène intervenes to secure a safe posting for him, acting against his wishes. The couple's personal turmoil collides with the onset of war.

Angry with Hélène's interference, Jean breaks their relationship as the country darkens with invasion. He immerses himself in resistance work, while she contemplates her own path in the changing world. The separation tests their bond under mounting strain.

As the German advance presses toward Paris, Hélène flees and witnesses the suffering of other refugees. The experiences abroad and the sight of widespread hardship harden her resolve. She confronts the human cost of occupation firsthand.

Returning to Paris, she briefly aligns with a German who could advance her career, but soon sees what her countrymen are suffering. She also witnesses the roundup of Jews, confronting the brutal realities of occupation. The moral tension pushes her toward reconsidering her loyalties.

Securing the safety of her Jewish friend Yvonne leads Hélène back to Jean, who has become a leader in a Resistance group. She is moved to join the cause and stand beside him again. The rekindling of their partnership deepens their commitment to the fight.

Jean has reconnected with his father, united by the common goal to liberate France from Germany. His mother remains wary and less impressed by the sacrifices demanded by the Resistance. The family tensions highlight the personal costs of political struggle.

Hélène is shot during a resistance activity, and Jean keeps vigil at her side, reflecting on their love and the wider consequences of their actions. He contemplates how their choices ripple through the lives of others. The moment crystallizes the personal cost of resistance.

As morning dawns, Hélène dies and Jean decides to continue with acts of resistance. He commits to the ongoing fight, accepting ongoing sacrifice as the price of freedom. The film closes on his quiet, determined resolve.