Still longing for love and beauty Nani Papali died at the age of twenty, leaving his diary containing the words of love he feared to speak about openly about his fellow student. In 1938 this diary was rewritten into a book, and was the first novel to deal with the subject of gay love in Slovenia. Scandalous for its day, it caused a great stir and met with considerable disapproval. The film Boys, based on this novel, depicts the intimate world of boys’ affections.

When Dane returns from the army, Vera awaits him at the station, ready to live together with him. Yet beneath the veil of enthusiasm lies anxiety for their future. The couple sets off for the mountain village where Vera's parents live, but find life in the harsh alpine conditions too difficult. They decide to move down into the valley, where they meet a discontented couple whose marriage has been marred by an affair. Vera and Dane also encounter difficulties in their relationship, but the tragic example of the other couple helps them realize that their home lies in the place of their birth - beneath the free skies in the mountains.