One hot summer's day in a little french town, a building worker accidentally finds the skeleton of a newborn baby and calls the police. Detective Jacques Deveure (Vincent Winterhalter) is placed in charge of the investigation. His investigation uncovers evidence of numerous shady dealings, revealing a strange underbelly of the private lives of a cadre of people including Grandier (Francois Berleand) and Blandine Piancet (Audrey Tautou). This multi-layered story continually unveils new twists and turns.

Does gender = sexuality? How does the family define gender roles? What are the dangers when society coerces gender norms? What deep-seated social fears are unleashed by those who flout those prescribed roles? What is New Gender Politics? These are just a few of the topical issues explored in the film. In addition, Butler covers a wide range of subjects, broaching not only controversial gender issues-including transsexuality and intersexuality-but also 20th century Jewish philosophy, AIDS activism, criticism of state power and violence, gay marriage, and anti-Zionism.