The rich butcher and purveyor to the court Wiener has had little joy in life since the death of his wife. His competitors now see their chance and try every trick in the book to get their hands on his successful liver cheese recipe.

After years in Canada, Thomas, returning home, finds a rather frosty welcome. Bernhard has moved in with his girlfriend Maria and the children, and much else in the village is different. His brother Winnie manages the family farm and has a stable family, his rival Bernhard has a solid job, while 35-year-old professional athlete Thomas faces an uncertain future. As internal tensions grow, so does an external threat: After heavy snowfall, the village is to be evacuated due to the danger of avalanches...

In order to stop the annual flooding, a dam is to be built in the mountain valley; a life-threatening undertaking for the inhabitants.