Before World War I, in Senlis, a small town near Paris, France, a middle-aged woman named Séharfenni Louis (Yolande Moreau) who was ordinary-looking and kept to herself worked as a maid in the home of Madame Dufour (Geneviève Mnich), making a living by cleaning and washing clothes. Séharfenni had a meager income, but she spent all the money she earned on painting materials, and seized every opportunity to paint after work. Wilhelm Wood (Ulrich Tukur), a German collector who was committed to promoting "simple art", moved into Madame Dufour's rental apartment. He was surprised to see Séharfenni's paintings at a party, and immediately bought all her works and encouraged her to continue creating. Soon after the outbreak of World War I, William Wood and his sister fled overnight. Cephalfanni stayed alone in the small town and continued to paint in the war. Her life became increasingly poor and difficult until 1927, when William Wood returned to France... The film won seven awards at the 2009 French Caesar Film Festival, including Best Film, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Score, Best Cinematography, Best Set Decoration, and Best Costumes, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Sound Awards.