This Czech-French drama examines the exquisitely tormented psyche of a young Czech in love. It is set in 1984 and 1994 respectively. Andrej is only twenty one and is in love with two women. He has been cruel to Eva, the first. The second is an achingly beautiful redhead, Krystina. Because he is also faced with a mandatory stint in the Czech military, Andrej begins drinking heavily. While he is in the army, Krystina pressures him to escape to save her from her beastly penthouse lover. The military life is terrible. That compounded with Krystina's insistance causes the indecisive Andrej to break down. In turmoil, the young man scales a dark smokestack uncaring of the winter cold around him. For hours he clings to a ladder paralyzed by vertigo, but unable to decide. Around him the snow continues to fall, and the wind to blow. The story then jumps forward to 1994. Andrej has just left the asylum and now lives in a quiet rural home. All is well, but is it really? ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide