An actress, a writer, a student, and a government worker band together in an effort to escape Paris as the Nazis move into the city.

She is almost deaf and he lip-reads. He is an ex-convict. She wants to help him. He thinks no one can help except himself.

Maria a cleaning lady, who is reserved, shy and clumsy. When she is assigned to the School of Fine Arts, she meets Hubert, the school's whimsical guardian. There she discovers a fascinating place where freedom, creativity and dari...