警察吕道维克从乡下调进城里，并且升为副所长，甚为得意。其女尼古拉也随父进城，终日与一些无所事事的青年在一起。出于虚荣，尼古拉编造了出身名门的身世。不料，一句诺言把刚刚升官的父亲牵连进一桩名画盗窃案。经验丰富的吕道维克随机应变，既擒了贼，又找回了名画，论功行赏，吕道维克又升了一级。

In the 1950s, in a small provincial town, a young inexperienced judge clashes with an influential notable during an investigation into a suspicious death. His perseverance to get to the truth will cause a huge scandal.