This true story happened in 1910 in Yakutia, a vast region of Eastern Siberia. Every now and then, Stepan Beresekov lapses into a lethargic sleep. Ivan Popov, an artist, is the only one who can tell if Stepan is dead or just sleeping. But Popov is about to go on a long ethnographic expedition. So Stepan decides to join his rescuer so as not to be buried alive.

In the Carpathians mountains, in a remote village, Irina lives with her brother, both orphans. They help their adoptive parents with the household chores. The young woman, born deaf-mute, has only one friend in the village: old Ciorsak, the church bell ringer. As often as she can, Irina retreats in nature, among wild animals that roam through the surrounding forests. In this idyllic setting, suspended in time, a French crew arrives to make a documentary film about local traditions and customs, baptism, wedding and funeral. Martin, the cameraman, falls madly in love with Irina, who accepts his love. As the film confronts the beliefs and superstitions of the villagers, their love gradually turns into a macabre ritual.