Now an old man living in the United States, Marcel recalls his childhood in German-occupied France, especially the summer that he and his older brother Rene befriended a young German soldier.

The year is 1941...and France has fallen to the German army. But to Marcel and his two older brothers, Pierre and René, the war seems far away from their tiny village of Mont-Saint-Martin. They spend a happy summer fishing, playing soldiers, and holding contest to see who is the biggest liar. Then the Germans occupy their village—and Marcel and his brothers learn who is the best liar of them all.