Kalevi Malmberg is an owner of a bakery, prospering by black-marketeering. He has a wife, Ella, and daughters, Anni and Hilkka. His son Aarne is killed in action in August 1945, when the Soviet Union launches a massive attack towards the Finnish lines.
Kalevi has been training Aarne to be his successor at the helm of the company. After his son's demise, Kalevi hopes that Anni will take over the business.