In the polder-lined outback of West Flanders, the three Persyn brothers have spent most of their lives on the same quiet plot. Loner Pol lives in the former parental home, while henpecked Luc and his snippy wife Carine occupy the farmhouse next door. Their two homes are obscured by the showy villa of entrepreneur and nouveau riche Willy and his younger wife Delphine.

Their peace is thoroughly disturbed when Cameroonian refugee Innocent Dipanda pops up unannounced at Luc’s doorstep, asking him for shelter. After all, writing from a risk-free 6000 kilometers as the crow flies, Luc had always assured the former pen pal of his daughter Anke that he would be welcome with his second family in Belgium. But as Luc clarifies at the eleventh hour, “Welcome” in his culture means “Welcome, if and only if it’s convenient”.