Set against the backdrop of 1960s France, Gueules noires follows a group of coal miners in a provincial town as they work under dangerous conditions in the coal mines. The film focuses on the lives of these workers, who face physical and emotional strain while grappling with their uncertain futures as industrialization and societal change encroach on their lives.

A young man enters the mines with idealistic dreams, only to be faced with the brutal realities of the job. As the miners navigate personal losses, economic hardships, and the ever-present threat of accidents, the film explores themes of solidarity, resistance, and the human cost of labor. The miners' struggles extend beyond the pit itself, as they confront broader issues of social class, worker’s rights, and family life.

Gueules noires offers a poignant portrait of a community bound together by shared hardship and pride in their work, showing the transformative power of solidarity and the dignity of labor in the face of adversity.