He works his way through various obstacles and jealousies. His new dance hall, the Moulin Rouge, becomes the temple of the new, provocative French Cancan. Guy goes to the Algerian War, leaving Genevieve whom he loves. She becomes pregnant. Genevieve's mother arranges for her daughter to marry a rich man, Cassard.
Guy returns from the war.
Genevieve is gone. He marries Madeleine and becomes the manager of a gas station. Genevieve drives through Cherbourg and sees Guy again, for the time it takes to fill the tank. He secretly loves Camille who is preparing her thesis and is also a tourist guide. Against all reason, she is attracted to Simon's employer, Marc, an un-repentant philanderer.