Nicolas Vanier directs this French adventure film adapted from Cécile Aubry's novel about a young boy who befriends a dog. Set in the French Alps in 1943, when the country is under German occupation, the story follows seven-year-old orphan Sébastien (Félix Bossuet), who is being cared for by César (Tchéky Karyo), an elderly pastor. When Sébastien meets and befriends a Pyrenean Mountain Dog that he names Belle, the villagers believe the animal to be the mysterious 'beast' that has been killing flocks of sheep. After Belle protects the boy from German soldiers Lieutenant Peter (Andreas Pietschmann) orders the villagers to find and destroy the dog. As the hunt for Belle gets underway Sébastien tries to save his beloved dog. Before long the truth behind the disappearing sheep comes out but will Belle get away unharmed?