The ground floor of Block 10, Staircase C of a public housing project in a French provincial town. Formerly an accordion player, now unemployed, Robert, one of the last romantics, struggles along and lets his five kids take care of him while hinging life around their mother’s occasional visits. On the 7th floor of Block 6, Staircase A of the same building, Simone, once a rock and roll pioneer, now a home helper, cleans for Robert and his kids, for whom she has a soft spot. She looks after the children when Robert sets out to find his wife and then disappears. After much emotional upheaval, Robert comes to understand that Simone is the woman for him. His children have a hit with a song, “La Smala,” that they perform in the housing block’s cellars.