Dave and Karen are falling in love but when Dave is diagnosed with an illness the magic of their relationship is tested.

Zanussi has described the film as his most autobiographical work. A young boy in post-World War II, Communist-dominated Poland, whose father's decision to remain in Britain after the war has made his family politically-suspect with the local Party authorities, is sent by his mother to stay with an "aunt" (in reality an old family friend) in Warsaw.

Everything is normal with the Krumborg family – but when you know them, nothing can surprise you anymore. The two robbers Boris and Ivan want to kidnap Krumme. Krumme wants to learn to ride a horse. Mom wants a healthy Christmas. Dad doesn't want a healthy Christmas. And it's hardly surprising that Krumme's Christmas present for Yrsa ends up under Mrs. Olsen's bed, or that caretaker Svendsen tries to repair Mrs. Olsen's sink – even though it's not broken. And the youngest member of the family, Grunk, has eaten all the Christmas decorations. Yes, everything is completely normal in the Krumborg family...