In 1914 the Škoda factories where frantically manufacturing armaments. Working there are the two Kalina brothers: Pavel, who is a supporter of the monarchy and Jan, who advocates the notion of Pan-Slavism. Just before mobilization Jan manages to flee to Russia. Pavel joins the Austrian Army. Two years of war go by. In Russia, Jan joins a volunteers group a Czech soldiers fighting against the Austrian monarchy. Pavel serves in the Austrian military together with Sergeant-Major Rabas. Rabas's son Miloš is a volunteer in the Czech company that Jan is in. Miloš is taken prisoner by Austrian troops and his father Rabas wants the Austrian authorities to be lenient on him. However, Miloš declares that he consciously fought for the liberation of his homeland, and therefore he is sentenced to death. The story questions how family ties are tested by conceptions of national identity and political ideologies. The film ultimately leaves open the question of what type of belonging, family, national, or political, has more power over these individuals.
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