Two brothers wait for their father to come back from the front. When they saw the effect that black letters which were then called death notices had on the recipients they talked the postman into hiding those letters until the end of the war.

Sabina and her mother Zarema are experiencing the death of their only brother and son. Each of them does it in their own way. Sabina withdraws into herself and spends all her time with the dog Bruce which connects her with her brother. Her mother fears losing connection with last child and tries to get closer to her daughter.