It was inspired by the novel by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare titled The General of the Dead Army.

[2] Set in October 1920, it tells the story of Major Delaplane, a man whose job is to find the identities of unknown dead soldiers after World War I.

He encounters two women looking for their lost men: Irène, an aristocrat, and Alice, a country girl.

The movie is a sensitive examination of the deep psychological scars left behind by the war, clear of sentiment yet with delicately nuanced irony.

It was also nominated for 11 César Awards, winning for Best Actor (Philippe Noiret) and Best Music.