A Russian man is sent from Moscow to take over the post of director of a music school in a Yakut city. He strives to establish his own order and soon finds himself in a confrontation with Marta Grigorevna, the director of a children's choir. Perestroika is underway, which forces the Sakha people to reassemble their understanding of their identity. The clash of two cultures leads to a mystical rapprochement between the director and his recent rival. Now she must choose between the sacredness of the dark past and love, which has heralded hope for a bright future.