Bucharest 1988. After the death of her father, Nela, a young teacher, wants to hand over his corpse to science, as was his wish. But the refrigeration system at university is defect and nobody wants the dead body. Disillusioned she leaves the capital to start a new job in the countryside where she meets the physician Mitica, together with whom she will from now on confront life in this country, turned upside-down. Underneath an old oaktree rebellious Nela eventually does find something like love and hope.