Set in 1833, during Belgium's early days filled with fears of Dutch aggression, a lottery system selects recruits for army service. Jan Braems, a naive farmer's son, seizes the opportunity to sell his ticket to a wealthy family for a tempting sum. However, military life proves brutal, especially for an uneducated Dutch speaker struggling to communicate with his Francophone superiors. Jan's rebellious spirit leads him into various troubles, including gambling and illness. Meanwhile, his girlfriend's search for him takes a tragic turn, entangling her fate in his misfortunes.