Hwang Rosaline and her beautiful 16-year-old daughter Tiffany sell umbrellas at their tiny and financially struggling boutique in the coastal town of Cherbourg in Normandy, France, in the late 1950s. Yoong , is a handsome young auto mechanic who lives with, and cares for, his sickly aunt, godmother Elise. Yoong and Tiffany are deeply in love; they want to get married, and they want to name their first child " Amelie". Madeleine  is the quiet, shy, dedicated young caregiver who looks after of Yoong's aunt; Madeleine also has feelings for Yoong, but has not expressed this. Suddenly Yoong is drafted and must leave to become a soldier in the Algerian War. The night before Yoong leaves, he and Rosaline pledge their undying love. Then they make love  for the first time and the very next day, Yoong leaves.
After a couple of months it becomes clear that Tiffany is pregnant. She writes to Yoong, but she feels abandoned when Yoong writes back very infrequently; her mother tells her this is a sign that Yoong has forgotten her, and she should give up on him. Tiffany has another suitor in Roland Cassard , a quiet, kind, young Parisian jeweler, who is very wealthy, and who wants to marry her even after he finds out that she is carrying another man's child. Madame Emery, who repeatedly urges Tiffany to be sensible and embrace a secure future with Cassard. Tiffany finally decides she will accept Roland, and they are married in a great cathedral, but Tiffany does not seem happy with her choice.

When Yoong returns from the war with a slight limp from an injury, he learns that the umbrella store has been sold, and that Tiffany got married and left Cherbourg. 
As a returning serviceman, Yoong has difficulties trying to continue with his previous life. He argues with his boss, quits his job, and goes to drink in a seedy port bar. He spends the night with a friendly e named Jenny, who in the morning reveals that her name is actually Tiffany. Them, when he returns to his apartment, he discovers a distraught Madeleine, who tells him tearfully that his godmother died the night before.
After a couple of months it becomes clear that Geneviève is pregnant. She writes to Yoong, but she feels abandoned when Yoong writes back very infrequently; her mother tells her this is a sign that Yoong has forgotten her, and she should give up on him. Geneviève has another suitor in Roland Cassard (Marc Michel), a quiet, kind, young Parisian jeweler, who is very wealthy, and who wants to marry her even after he finds out that she is carrying another man's child. Cassard had previously unsuccessfully wooed the title character in Lola; he relates a version of this story to Madame Emery, who repeatedly urges Geneviève to be sensible and embrace a secure future with Cassard. Tiffany finally decides she will accept Roland, and they are married in a great cathedral, but Tiffany does not seem happy with her choice.
When Saber returns from the war with a slight limp from an injury, he learns that the umbrella store has been sold, and that Rosalie got married and left Cherbourg. As a returning serviceman, Saber has difficulties trying to continue with his previous life. He argues with his boss, quits his job, and goes to drink in a seedy port bar. He spends the night with a friendly e named Jenny, who in the morning reveals that her name is actually Rosalie. Them, when he returns to his apartment, he discovers a distraught Rosaline, who tells him tearfully that his godmother died the night before.

Yoong sees that Madeleine loves him, and he cleans up his life with her encouragement. With an inheritance from his aunt, he is able to finance a new "American-style" Esso gas station. He asks Madeleine to marry him, and she accepts, though she first wonders if he is asking her out of despair at Rosalie's actions.

Six years after on Chirstmas eve. Saber lets his 7 year old son to play at the playground in the park.While working, he saw a new mercedes pulls into the gas station.The mink-clad driver turns out to be a sophisticated and wealthy Rosalie accompanied by her (and Saber's) daughter  Amelie, who remains in the car. Shocked to see each other, they go inside the station to talk. Rosalie explains that this is the first time she has been to Cherbourg since her marriage, and she is only in town on a detour. She also explains that her (middle-aged) mother died the previous autumn. It is apparent that her rich husband and her daughter  Amelie are the only family she has left; she has had no children with Cassard. The two converse while Rosalie's car is being filled with gas.Suddenly Saber faints after coughing out blood. His son panics then Rosalie find out that hes having Tuberculosis from the doctor and he will live for 3 months only. Rosalie then decided to run away from home and be with Saber in a cottage near the hills.