The Christmas of 1905 in Vigala is not a peaceful holiday.

The manor house has been pillaged during the peasants’ revolt; the air is heavy with smoke and a looming sense of inevitable punishment.

Bernhard Laipmann is a tenant farmer whose wife urges him to leave home as he continues to draw the attention of the authorities. Hesitant about leaving, Laipmann is driven by the pursuit of freedom and equality, yet alarmed by the violence of the revolution. Having taken no part in looting the manor house, he believes he is innocent. Nevertheless, falsely accused, he is captured and prepares for the worst. Once more he must make a choice, and this time he has no doubts.

The 1981 film sparked sharp controversy owing to its non-formulaic approach to history and formal experimentation, ultimately remaining the director's only feature film as a result of the ensuing backlash.