During World War I in Norway, the lives of a shipping agent and his family are put under pressure when he becomes bankrupt and his wife's mentally disturbed sister comes to stay.
In a rural western town in 1890 a woman has a mute old daughter after relations with her step father, which in his need of money, wants to sell them off to a rich skin tradesman. While resisting this, the woman turns lame.
12 year old Johan is completely in love with Veronica. He does everything he can to get her to notice him - but nothing works until he completely gives up.
