The film captures the metaphorical breakup of an empire and why Nations revival-and imperious claimed independence. Everything is seen from the perspective of two characters moving almost ghostly "through the ashes of the Empire" austro-Hungarian Empire, surprised in agony before his disappearance: Dag, a young man still surrounding unadulterated miseries, and the diplomat, a cynic with the claim of a noble tone. The two are trying to survive, but the diplomat ends up being arrested by the authorities, and Dahab, more mature now joins the battle against war.