It is the year 2009, and civilization has almost perished on the planet, choked to death by pollution. The only place it survives is in the frigid far north. There, the few survivors are governed by a harsh military government, and dissenters quickly find themselves rounded up by the murderous Duke (Jurgen Prochnow). The picture opens as Jake (Jolyon Baker), a captive of Duke's, manages to escape. He helps rescue a peddler (Matti Pellonpaa) from the aftereffects of a motorcycle accident, and in gratitude the merchant helps Jake get free of his handcuffs. Another escapee is an amnesiac but capable woman (Fanny Bastien), who becomes a romantic partner of sorts, as they almost inadvertently manage to bring down the murderous enforcer.