In June of 1942 Germans and their collaborators decide to get rid of partisans and their stronghold in the woods of Mount Kozara in Northern Bosnia. They encircle the mountain and begin the mop up operation. Out gunned and outnumbered the partisans must not only take care of themselves but try to protect thousands of refugees too.
Commander Pavle receives partisan Jovan to shot him for not executing his orders. While listening to his unfortunate love story from the war, Pavle remembers his own relationship which had an equally bitter epilogue, and decides to set Jovan free.
