LouisisabroodinglonerwholiveswithtwolargewhitedogsinaforestneartheFrench-Swissborder.HisestrangedsonSidneyliveswithhiswifeinavillagenearby.Louisiscarryingonanaffairwiththelocalpharmacistandcarryingatorchforabeautiful,ferallocaldogbreeder.Hesuffersamildheartattack,andbuysanewheartontheblackmarket.ThenhetravelstoSouthKorea,wherehebuysaboatandsailsittohisformerhome,adilapidatedshackonaremoteislandsouthofTahiti.Hisdreamistofindthesonhesireddecadesearlierwhenhelivedthere.However,onceheissettled,hisbodybeginstorejectthealienheart.