In 1993, a young Tajik woman named Mira returns to her hometown Dushanbe after living in Russia in the early years immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. She learns shortly after arriving that her father has gambled her away to an old man, Ibrohim, who is eagerly claiming his prize. Mira goes into hiding while the Tajik Civil War rages outside. She meets and falls in love with Daler, the local cable car driver Daler.