Väinö, Ilmari and Lemminki, inspired by the tales in the Kalevala, go in search of a woman, eventually finding themselves at war with the Nordic people, and consider the great questions of life, their relationship to life, love and death.

The people of Kalevala, for themselves, each other, nature, fate, technology, community, merciless time, and narrative, in the mercy, of history."The Iron Time" is based on the events of the Kalevala, but Paavo Haavikko created his own interpretation and guided the authors, "Forget the Kalevala!" Väinö, Ilmari and Lemminki are looking for a woman for themselves, waging a war with the Nordic people, and paying their relationship to life, love and death. The main plot is the battle for the control of Sampo, who is making money.—YLE