The sniper-yakut, contrary to the laws of wartime, saved the life of the German boy - the Hitler Youth ...
A story of jealous love and betrayal that end up decimating a small group of outcaste lepers who have been banished from participation in Yakut community life.
Gorgeously shot in the wide-open Siberian wilderness this outdoor adventure chronicles the dramatic escape of a big-city bred violinist from a Siberian labor camp. Underlying the action is the tale of a man who learns to become one with his environment rather than trying to dominate it. The story begins as enigmatic, Asian tribesman Toli comforts the starved violinist Dimitri that they will be escaping soon. They get their chance when a beautiful herd of Yakut horses begin grazing placidly near where the two are toiling. Sneaking away from the others, they grab tow hand steeds and race off. Unfortunately, Toli is mortally wounded. Just before he dies, he tells Dimitri that he is a powerful shaman and then hands the fiddler a protective amulet. In this way, Toli becomes Dimitri's guardian spirit. The city youth will need all the help he can get as he and his horse must traverse the unforgiving wilds and keep away from guards, alone.
The cold summer of 1953. Escaped prisoners wander into a sayylyk (summer homestead), where only one family lives. The village is far away, other summerers are even further away, there is no one to wait for help. The appearance of escaped prisoners turns into a tragedy for the family.
