During war time, the bonds forged by those struggling to survive the ravages of battle can be stronger than blood ties, something an emotionally-distant Bosnian poet discovers when he befriends a pair of war orphans and helps them search for their last surviving family member. The story begins in Sarajevo during the Bosnian war and centers on Hamza, who is first seen having a heated conversation with his wife, who accuses him of self-centeredness for not actively helping to get her and their adolescent daughter to safety. Shortly thereafter, the wife and daughter leave the city. One day, Hamza encounters seven-year-old Adis and his mute nine-year-old brother Kerim. With no one left to care for them, they are seeking their aunt Aicha, who has disappeared. During their arduous journey, the three befriend a wounded dog and thus an unlikely family is formed amidst the death and devastation.