Only 7% of Kalmykia’s population has access to clean drinking water. It is the driest region in Russia. But Badma, a local herder, does not fight against nature — he lives in harmony with it. Following Buddhist practices and the traditions of the nomadic people, he aligns his daily life with the rhythms of the steppe, preserving resilience where it seems impossible.

The film is based on observations of the life of society on the scale of the preparation and celebration of the New Year. The fairy tale captures society, plunging into vivid illusions. People enter the circle of unlimited consumption, buying gifts, food, and decorations. This hustle and bustle alienates people from the reality that they will have to face at the festive table.

Tishina remained a homeless child from the age of nine. Her mother moved to Moscow and got in touch with a drug addict. Her drinking father, a truck driver, remained in the village. From the age of eleven, Tisha began to wander around friends in search of new parents.