It is the spring of 1948. The joy of peace has not yet faded, but the Cold War is already fully impacting the relations between the East and the West. Deep Šumava forests separate the two blocs. Twenty-four-year-old cook Josef Hasil serves in the kitchen of the National Security Corps in Zvonková. Despite his young age, he has already experienced a lot. He’s been through a German labor camp and worked with partisans. Now, he primarily longs for fun, adventure, and freedom, with politics being the last thing on his mind.

In the morning, I’ll lead people across the border, at noon there’s a wedding, and then we’ll dance and drink until morning. I can handle that no problem. No tree grows to the heavens - only the one whose roots reach into hell. The story of the King of the Šumava reaches its climax. The noose is tightening.