AchamberorchestraisworkingoutofarundowntheatreinReykjavik.Financialhardshipplacesagreatstrainonthebandandtheleadviolinist,Sigrun.Theannualgrantfromthecityiscomingtoanendsothebandhiresaworldrenownedcellistinordertosavetheband.Themediagoeswildandmoneystartstoflowtothebandagain.Toobadthecellistisnotaveryniceperson–heisquitetheassgrabberandatwofacedcheater.Toolatetofirethestarandthegrandconcertthatwillsavethebandisabouttobeginwhenthecellistchokestodeath–15minutesbeforetheconcert.Thebanddecidestoriskitallandplaytheconcertwithadeadsoloartist–notreallythinkingabouthowtoendsuchamacabreshow.

An American photographer on assignment in a remote Icelandic community becomes entangled with an enigmatic European couple.