Christmas1944.SovietsoldiersinvadeHungaryanddrageveryyoungwomanwithGermanoriginsawayfromasmallvillageandtransportthemtoaSovietlaborcampwheretheyareforcedtoworkinthecoalminesunderinhumanconditions.ThisiswhereIrén,oneoftheHungarianwomen,meetsRajmundwhodecidestoteachherhowtosurvive.Whilesheisdeterminedtoreturnhometoherlittledaughterandfamily,historyandfatehaveadifferentplan:IrénandRajmundfallinlove.