It has been fifteen years since the nuclear disaster. In the middle of a vacant lot stands an old building inhabited by some rather strange people whose primary concern is food. The entire Tapioca family; Mr. and Mrs. Interligator, a couple of dreadful snobs; the Kube brothers, who do nothing but manufacture little round boxes that moo when turned upside-down; Mr. Potin, holed up with his frogs and snails; and Miss Plusse, a lady of uncertain virtue;...

The Ambassador of the small South American country of Miranda is trafficking in drugs with some French bourgeois friends of his. But every time they want to have dinner together, their plans are put off due to unexpected events. In their quest of a lavish feast, the dividing-line between reality and dreams becomes unclear for each guest, leading to complete and utter ridicule.

In 1917, in a German camp, a group of French prisoners - including the aristocratic Boieldieu, Maréchal the foreman and the Jewish banker Rosenthal - prepare to escape. At the last moment, they are moved to a fortress commanded by Von Rauffenstein, who becomes friendly with Boieldieu.