The Widow of Saint-Pierre

Set in 1850 on Saint-Pierre, a small French island not far from Canada. One night a man is savagely assassinated. His murderer, Neel Auguste is subsenquently condemned to death. But in Saint-Pierre there is neither guillotine nor executioner. The French government promises to remedy the situation but warns there will will be a long wait. A guillotine must be brought from France. In the meantime, Neel is placed under custody with the captain and awaits his execution with humility. The Captain's wife, Madame La, is particularly interested in Neel's fate, in whom she sees goodness and simplicity. She cannot resign herself to accept that a man can really be bad, and hopes for his rehabilitation at all costs. Little by little, with the help of his benefactress, and contrary to the judgement of the town's leading citizens, the condemned man becomes indispensable and the most popular man on the island. But when the guillotine arrives by boat, justice must be done. Madame La will do her utmost to stop Neel being executed. Undying love for his wife will incite the captain to oppose the Establishment and thus lead, inevitably, to his own destiny...