Chechen Republic, present day. Russian troop positions. Alexandra Nikolaevna is a grandmother who has come to see her grandson, one of the best officers in his unit. She will spend a few days here, and will discover a new world. In this male world there are no women, no warmth or comfort. Daily life is meagre, people are shy of their feelings here. Or maybe there simply isn't time or energy for feelings. Every day and every hour questions of life and death are decided here. And yet people still live there.