Young, idealistic Spanish aristocrat Rafael (Colin) has been studying in France during the years since the Spanish Republic was declared. Now, it's 1936 and he has been summoned home to fight against the Communists under the command of Col. Masagual (Trintignant). Masagual assigns Rafael to the firing squad to toughen him up but Rafael eventually rediscovers his convictions and double-crosses his mentor. Based on an autobiographical novel by Jose Luis de Vilallonga. French with subtitles.