The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Michel, a long-time CGT shop steward, learns that his shipyard will cut jobs and is chosen in the redundancy draw. He had not needed to put his own name in, but he is drawn as one of the losers. The news sets the emotional stage for the film, highlighting loyalty, fear, and the politics of layoffs.

Family and friends celebrate Michel and Marie-Claire's 30 years together with a party. They receive travel money and a ticket to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, offering a symbol of hope beyond the immediate hardship. The mood blends warmth with the weight of coming challenges.

Raoul, Michel's brother-in-law, presents a treasured but long-lost comic book from Michel's childhood, claiming he found it in a secondhand shop. The moment rekindles Michel's memories and deepens the family bond. It foreshadows the later themes of care and unintended consequences.

Before departure, Michel and Marie-Claire are brutally robbed at home of the comic book and other possessions. The attack injures Michel and traumatizes Denise, who is deeply disturbed by the violence. The robbery intensifies the sense that their world is being upended.

On a bus, Michel sees two children reading the stolen comic and recognises their elder brother Christophe as one of his redundant colleagues. He identifies Christophe to the police and watches his arrest. The moment links unemployment to crime and social strain.

Michel and Marie-Claire learn that Christophe is looking after his two younger brothers, neglected by their mother. The revelation reframes the theft as part of a larger family crisis. It challenges Michel's initial impulse to press charges.

Michel wants to withdraw his accusation, but the case cannot be withdrawn. Inspired by Jean Jaurès, he decides to try to help the two younger brothers rather than let them suffer. This inner conflict tests his ideals against practical law-and-order pressures.

Marie-Claire secretly begins helping the two brothers, showing the couple's shared values in action. Her initiative deepens their partnership and reveals a private, caring side of their marriage. It foreshadows how they will eventually open their home to the children.

After discussions with their own grown children and with Raoul, Michel and Marie-Claire decide to take the two boys into their home and care for them. They commit to providing stability while Christophe serves a long sentence. The household begins to reorganize around this new responsibility.

Raoul finally reveals that he did not find the comic book in a shop, but had stolen it from Michel during their childhood adventures. The revelation reframes the gift and adds a layer of betrayal within the family. This moment tests trust and complicates the past.

Christophe serves a long sentence, and the two younger brothers gain stability under Michel and Marie-Claire's care. The family structure shifts as adults pursue their paths while the children find security. The film presents a model of chosen guardianship and social solidarity.

With shared ideals at its core, the couple's relationship strengthens as they continue to care for the siblings. They face outside opinions and internal resistance but hold firm to their commitment. The story closes on a note of communal responsibility and human connectedness.