In the idyllic French countryside four children, Michael, Louis, Alex and Isobel, escape to a forest to create their own utopian community. Following the principals of Jean Jacques Rousseau's 'The social contract', they free themselves from the constraints of time and money to establish 'The republic of trees'. The children indulge in the sexual rewards of their revolution until the sudden arrival of Joy. Under her influence erotic bonds begin to fray and their utopian dreams begin to darken. As the summer heat intensifies, 'The republic of trees' cascades to a shocking and unforgettable conclusion.