Nas profundezas do deserto da Lapônia, Aatami Korpi está em busca de ouro. De vez em quando, o sobrevoo de bombardeiros e os sons distantes da guerra podem ser ouvidos na noite de outono. Finalmente, o trabalho árduo é recompensado e o pó de ouro na panela se transforma em pedaços de ouro, e Aatami sai para levar seu tesouro de ouro para a cidade mais próxima. Depois que ele se depara com a patrulha nazista liderada pelo SS Obersturmführer Bruno Helldorf, começa uma perseguição de tirar o fôlego e faminta por ouro através do deserto destruído e minado da Lapônia.
Twelve-year-old Tommy reluctantly moves with his father from the big city to a small Lapp village - the childhood home of his mother, who has recently died. The village is close to the northernmost wildlife reserve in the world, where Tommy's father will be working on a project to release a captive lynx into the wild. The boy gradually falls under the spell of his new surroundings, and discovers that his mother was involved in protecting the local lynx, and, when his father's project fails, and the lynx is about to be sold, he decides to set it free himself. A dramatic series of events ensues, and Tommy, through his brave actions, regains the trust and respect of his family and the village.
