The four protagonists of the story -- all late teens, early twenties -- are friends/acquaintances -- They are coming of age in 1962 during closing stages of the Algerian Revolution, much as the lives of many American youth of the same age (as I was) were shaped by the somewhat later Vietnam war. Francois is nascent gay, having just had his first same-sex experience with Serge whose brother is a soldier fighting in Algeria. Maite is Francois close friend and a Communist. Maite and Francois are not sexual partners. Francois confides his sexuality to Maite who is supportive. Enter Henri, an Algerian-born French exile and a staunch anti-Communist. The plot thickens. An enjoyable French romance/coming of age drama.