ThefilmisbasedonAndrusKivir?hk’snovelRehepapp.ThestoryissetinapaganEstonianvillagewherewerewolves,theplague,andspiritsroam.Thevillagers’mainproblemishowtosurvivethecold,darkwinter.And,tothataim,nothingistaboo.Peoplestealfromeachother,fromtheirGermanmanorlords,andfromspirits,thedevil,andChrist.Toguardtheirsouls,they’llgivethemawaytothievingcreaturesmadeofwoodandmetalcalledkratts,whohelptheirmastersbystealingmore.Theystealeveniftheirbarnsarealreadyoverflowing.Stealingisanobsessionthatmakesthevillagersmoreandmorelikethesoullesscreaturestheycommand,thekratts.ThemaincharacterofthefilmisayoungfarmgirlnamedLiinawhoishopelesslyandforlornlyinlovewithavillageboynamedHans.Herlongingmakesthegirlbecomeawerewolfandjumpintoanice-coldpond.She’sreadytodieinthenameoflove.
