In 1800s Denmark, a farmer has a bad harvest and thus not enough food for his family. He makes a deal, that includes his farm and his daughter getting married, with a nearby rich farmer.

As winter approaches in rural 1850s Denmark, an old farmer (Jens) and his family face starvation. With the harsh circumstances and the prospect of yet another tough winter, Jens agrees to ally with the neighbor family in a marriage between his daughter and their son. However, when the rich farmer at a nearby farm wants to buy Jens's land, he sees a chance to provide him and his family with an even better life.

Michael Noer's fifth feature tells the heart-wrenching story of a struggling farmer in 19th-century Denmark who must go against his morals and make a deal with a wealthy neighbor in order to secure his family's survival over a harsh winter.

Michael Noer's fifth feature is a portrait of a struggling family of freeholders in 19th century Denmark. For years, Jens - played by Danish actor Jesper Christensen - has been fighting to survive on a harsh, unyielding piece of land. The family's decline in fortune is deeply felt and underscored by the local burghers. The parish priest humiliates them by moving them further back in the church, and Jens is now being targeted by Gustav, a wealthy Swede looking to expand his holdings. With winter coming, Jens must choose between marrying off his beloved daughter or losing his family's only means of survival.