This film out of Finland takes place during the Winter War of 1940, when the Soviet Union and Finland fought over territory during World War II, and 150 monks of Valaam Monastery were evacuated and settled in Heinävesi in Finland, in what became New Valamo Monastery.
In the movie, a ten year old Orvo lives with his grandmother, Kaarina, while his father is away at war. Meanwhile a monk from Valaam and the young Orvo become friends, and the story focuses on them and the challenges they face due to the war. The film explores the relationship between the Monastery and a nearby village and how it changed following the war.
