Anupper-classcorporalfromParisiscapturedbytheGermanswhentheyinvadeFrancein1940.Assistedandaccompaniedbycharactersasdiverseasamorosedairyfarmer,awaiter,amyopicintellectual,aworking-classParisian,andaGermandentalassistant,thecorporaltriestoescapefromprisoncamps,sometimesmakingitafewyards,sometimesreachingtheFrenchborderaaa