In early 20th century, a young Ossetian man kills a captain while defending a poor shepherd. After going into hiding, he meets a beautiful woman, and they fall in love at first sight. Learning that her hand is promised to another, the young man decides to abduct her.

The great Ossetian poet, Kosta Khetagurov, returns from exile to his native village of Nar. Yet the joy of coming back to his homeland is short-lived: Nar is even poorer than it was before. The Aldars, princes who rule the villages with an iron fist, continue to act with impunity.