SYNOPSIS

​​​​AURORA (25) and DARKO (27) are a young couple who dare to start living together after their first year of dating. She is a veterinarian and has been interning at a local animal clinic for six months. He does not have a job, plays guitar in a band, and tries to write his music. All the events take place in Ukraine. The Russian-Ukrainian war ended not so long ago with the victory of Ukraine. The young couple doesn't have enough money to rent their place, so they go out of town to live with Aurora's grandfather in his house. It is a small suburban village not far from Kyiv. The whole second floor of the house is empty, and the couple hopes to find freedom and peace in a new place. Grandfather ANTON (87 years old) has been blind for over 15 years and can distinguish only light and shadow. But all these years, he somehow managed to live on his own. His wife died quite a long time ago. During the war, his village was occupied by the Russians. He refused to go to the city and survived the occupation alone in the house, not without the help of his neighbour, BABA LYUBA. Everyone in the village calls her Ba-Lyuba. Aurora's mother, VARVARA, supported her father only remotely. The village was not severely damaged. Several houses were destroyed by the Russians when they were retreating. The process of reparation, rebuilding, and revitalisation is in full swing. Luckily, Anton's home is fine. Throughout the film, we observe a natural cycle in this village - from a joyful spring that blossoms into summer to sad autumn that turns into a snowy winter. Time passes differently in places outside a big city. Aurora and Darko are happy about the new circumstances and grow closer. Rora (the short form of Aurora's name) was never close with her grandfather, but their relationship also seems to improve. The couple does not have many responsibilities towards the grandfather - only to cook him breakfast and something that he could reheat on his own for lunch. The only thing that worries Rora is her grandfather's old age, and she is afraid of his sudden death. Each night when Rora comes home, she silently checks if he is still breathing, not realising that death is not such an easy process. Sometimes she catches him reading the prayers. Gradually, death becomes the central theme of their lives and puts everything in its place.