Veuve de Saint-pierre, La (2000) - Synopsis
1850 - Saint-Pierre, a forgotten small French island near Canada. Neel Auguste (Emir Kusturica), is found guilty of murder and condemned to death, but in Saint-Pierre there is neither guillotine nor executioner to carry out the sentence. The French government promises to remedy the situation but warns there will be a long wait- a guillotine must be brought from France.
In the meantime, Neel is placed under the custody of the Captain (Daniel Auteuil) and awaits his execution with humility. The Captain's wife, Madame La (Juliette Binoche), is particularly interested in Neel's fate, in whom she sees goodness and simplicity. She can not 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 his popularity with the islanders soars.
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 tragic destiny…
