Trapper Lars is living on Spitsbergen, an island far north of Norway. His life consists mainly of hunting and fishing for survival. Being in peace with his environment, the sudden arrival of Ellen, a student, is quite a disturbing event. Lars, who permitted her to visit and live with him during the dark and cold winter in the first place, soon is challenged by her attraction and also by her strict will only to gain experience. The relation between the two unalike persons - who don't even have a language in common - is stressed from the beginning, and when Ragnar, another trapper, comes over, the situation is about to change.