Neil and Marina walk on the famous French beach known as the "Wonderland of the West". Neil is an American who came to France in search of a better life and aspires to be a writer. He left America, a mess of his past. When he first saw Marina's bright and dark eyes, he felt that he was in love with this woman. And he decided to give this woman a lifetime of love and commitment.
Marina is from Ukraine and is a single mom. At that time, Marina, who was only 16 years old, came to Paris alone and was penniless. Had a tough day. Two years after coming to France, she married a French man who abandoned her two years later. Marina lives alone with her 10-year-old daughter Tatiana. In order to maintain a small family, Marina had to do several part-time jobs at the same time to make money. Just when she has almost completely given up her hopes for the future, she meets Neil, who she sees as the guarantee of her future life and the savior of her unfortunate life.
Two years later, Neal and Marina moved to Oklahoma, USA, near the town where Neal grew up. At this time, Neil had given up his dream of being a writer and became a supervisor of the environment. Neil is fairly satisfied with his work. But his love for Marina gradually extinguished Marina's passion. Marina felt that a part of herself had become one with Neil, and that part of herself had disappeared with the mediocrity of life. In order to reawaken her emotions, in order to change her life attitude and love concept, Marina decided to go out.
In search of life advice, Marina found a Catholic church and met a priest named Quintana. Father Quintana is "at war" with himself. He felt that he no longer had the passion he had when he entered the profession. He no longer had a huge passion for religion. He even doubted whether he still had the need to continue to be a priest and continue to maintain his faith.
At the same time, Neil's job is in crisis. Neal discovered that local metal smelting plans were polluting local water and soil. And the damage caused by this pollution is long-lasting, and it will afflict the next generation of local residents. He tried to unite with the local residents to boycott the smelter, but he failed. Under pressure from the government to "shut up", Neal had to weigh his choices and actions again.
Neil's suspicions of Marina grow, and Marina's visa expires, so she returns to France with her children. During Maria's absence, Neil reconnects with his old lover, Jane. He found that in his relationship with Jane, he didn't have to consider too many practical issues, and their relationship was not complicated. Still, rumors spread that Neil heard that Marina was having a hard time in France, that her daughter was forced to live with her father, who refused to give Marina any help. When he heard the news, Neil felt it was his responsibility and obligation to bring Marina and her children back to the United States to live.
Neil's entanglement with two women, and the war between the priest's own celestial beings, these two very different emotions are manifestations of different kinds of love - it seems that the pain of love completely replaces the joy of love in them.
