Single mother Marija lives with her son Darko in a village that is attacked one night by Chetnik forces. The two manage to escape and find refuge in a nearby town. Marija finds work in a hospital laundry, while Darko, despite her objections, joins Croatian volunteer forces to help defend his homeland. When Marija receives news that Darko has been killed, she sets out for enemy territory without regard for the danger, determined to find his remains and lay him to rest in their native village.