Ján Blanský

A film about the dramatic lives of the people living in the village of Ráztoka during WW I. Women are left without husbands, families fall apart, finding themselves on the verge of poverty. Eva, the main heroine, is going through difficulties after her husband was drafted to the army. Her defilement and her tragic death cause a rebellion by which the village inhabitants finally stand up against their unbearable situation.

Little Peter goes to his grandparents' house for the holidays, but he forgets to take his storybook with him.

The film is based on the memoirs of partisan commander Peter Kružliak. Lieutenant Peter Kubiš is ordered to move with his unit to the mountains after the fall of Banská Bystrica, where he is to receive further orders. No one is waiting, on the contrary, civilian refugees from Banská Bystrica are also entrusted to his protection. In addition, the headquarters sends him to "take care" of captured German soldiers. A serious dispute arises over whether to liquidate the prisoners or not. The final decision must be made and enforced by Lieutenant Kubiš - he refuses to carry out the sentence without a decision from a field court. Kubiš sends the captured Germans - hostages to Banská Bystrica to guarantee the safe return of the civilian population to the city.

Ivan Hálek, son of the famous poet Vítězslav Hálek, studied medicine and devoted his life to the Slovak countryside. In the poor Kysuce region, he not only treats the local villagers, but also makes an extraordinary contribution to education. At the same time, he struggles with lingering superstitions and mistrust. However, the hero and his young wife also become acquainted with folk customs, songs, and the colorful culture of the poorest. And he proclaims that only those who rid them of terrible mass poverty can provide these poor people with true living water.