1897年夏天，一只名为"鹰"的巨型气球载着三名探险者离开瑞典，开始了他们飞往北极极地的探险。这个探险小组领导是中年工程师安德列，他勇敢而又固执，一心想考察极地的秘密，他的同伴是两个年轻的探险家：弗朗凯尔、斯特琳德伯格。汽球在航行三个半小时后停落在冰川上，三个勇敢的人面对大自然的种种艰险展开了一场生与死的搏斗……三十三年之后，人们在一个小岛上发现了他们被冻僵的尸体。安德烈的探险是无意义的，还是伟大的？安德烈是否知道自己会这样死去呢？对于后人这还是个谜。但是，"鹰"的飞翔将作为人对极地的征服而载入史册。

Elisabeth leaves her abusive and drunken husband Rolf, and goes to live with her brother, Göran. The year is 1975 and Göran lives in a commune called Together. Living in this leftist commune Elisabeth learns that the world can be viewed from different perspectives.

Sixteen-year-old Lilja and her only friend, the young boy Volodja, live in Russia, fantasizing about a better life. One day, Lilja falls in love with Andrej, who is going to Sweden, and invites Lilja to come along and start a new life.