In May 1968, wildcat strikes virtually bring France to a standstill. Three years later, in 1971, high school senior Gilles and his classmates carry on the revolutionary experience. They hand out leftist pamphlets during the day and at night, they spray paint graffiti on the walls of their school. When things go awry, they decide to clear out of Paris for the summer.

Gilles, his girlfriend and a friend join other activists for a bohemian vacation in sun-soaked Italy. By the end of summer, they find themselves on different paths—with Gilles pursuing his love of art and eventually filmmaking.