The story of an impossible love: doctor Emil Codrescu is reunited 20 years later with Adela, the one he had only known as a young girl. The two fall in love, but circumstances and hesitation prevent them from getting closer.
In 18th century Hapsburg ruled Transilvania the Romanian shepherds from the village of Vlașini face the oppression and injustice of imperial authorities, being forced to flee from their place of birth or pay tribute to the Germans of Hermannstadt for grazing sheep on their own pastures.
Nicolae (George Motoi), the intelectual descendant of Moromete family, former communist apparatchik in the 50s, becomes a horticultor due to a political error, and refuses to have any social life, even if he is unhappy with his inactivity. The death of his partner makes him respond to the overtures of his old comrades. Based on the eponymous novel by Marin Preda.
Fanita, a young man desirous to earn money as a result of personals initiatives, will fail in all these businesses , is ultimately convinced to enter in the Agricultural Production Comradeship or Community from his village.