Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haarla) is studying archaeology in Moscow and, thanks to her lover, the Russian Irina (Dinara Drukarova), moves in academic circles that fascinate and intimidate her in equal measure. Together with Irina, she plans a trip to Murmansk to see the so-called petroglyphs, prehistoric stone drawings. When Irina cancels at the last minute, Laura decides to embark on the arduous two-day train journey alone. When she is assigned her sleeping compartment, a shaven-headed miner named Ljoha (Yuriy Borisov) sits there, who proves to be an obnoxious neighbor with crude remarks and vodka. Repulsed by Ljoha's boorish behavior, Laura flees to the restaurant car for the time being. But over the next few days, the mismatched passengers have to get along in a very confined space. Only when Laura gradually gives up her dismissive attitude does it become clear that she has much more in common with Ljoha than either of them ever imagined.