A historical drama depicting the Finnish struggle against Tsarist Russia. Opens at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg in February 1899. Tsar Nicholas II signs the February Manifesto, the purpose of which is to abolish Finnish self-government. An act that arouse widespread opposition in Finland.

The film starts at the countryside, where station master Viirimäki is spending his summer holiday. He has gotten into the holiday mood to the extent that he wakes up from his stupor at the very moment he should already be getting back to work. Unfortunately the last ship from the island where he has been vacationing has already sailed, but as luck would have it, local residents Himanen and Kehkonen promise to help him out. Things turn out differently, however, and the attempt to help starts out an adventure filled with misunderstandings and plot twists.