The film is set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The story follows a group of Jewish-American guerrilla warriors, known as "The Basterds," who are tasked with terrorizing the Nazis behind enemy lines. The team is led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), a tough and charismatic officer. Meanwhile, a young French woman named Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) seeks revenge against the Nazis for the brutal murder of her family.