A film based on novels by Latvian writer Andrejs Upīts tells a story about Latvian peasants around the 16th/17th century when they were under the role of several other countries.

The last summer of World War II in a Latvian fishing village. Ten-year-old Rita risks her life to care for and provide everything necessary for four prisoners of war rescued by fishermen—a Frenchman, a Russian, and two Latvians—who are hidden in the attic of a school converted into a warehouse by the German army.

Riga, the 1930s. Oļģerts Kurmis, an educated unemployed, does all kinds of odd jobs. Together with his friend, vagrant Frīdis, they sometimes work for Mr. Kalnkāja who dreams of becoming a member of parliament. Kurmis feels responsible for his neighbour Emma, the young woman has just served a prison sentence for petty theft. He helps her to get a maid's position in the Kalnkāja household. While helping Kurmis and Frīdis with Kalnkāja's election posters, Emma is arrested again, this time for a "political offence".

Marcis Seglins, a retired factory craftsman finds a new hobby - training young workers.