On the harsh but beautiful high plains of Kyrgyzstan, three generations of nomadic horse-herders make a life for themselves – an ageing couple, their widowed daughter-in-law Shayir, and their granddaughter. Shayir’s son has been lured away to the city, and on his infrequent visits it’s obvious he’ll never return to the nomadic lifestyle. When a meteorologist camped nearby takes an interest in Shayir, her mother-in-law fears she could bolt, and sunder their little family still further.