Fennoscandia, 1943. Nine-year-old Eero, whose father is killed during the war, is brought to Sweden to the protection of foster parents like thousands of other Finnish children. Eero feels lost, particularly as his foster mother Signe's behavior isn't very friendly. She was expecting a little girl, and still mourning for her daughter who drowned in the sea. The situation changes when Eero's mother tells with a letter that she wants to go with her lover to Germany and Eero should remain with his foster mother. Thus Eero becomes Signe's son. Now she cares lovingly for him. Eero makes friends with the little girl Siv and enjoys childhood for a while. However, when the war ends the boy must return to Finland against his will. His mother awaits him, but never again will he be able to trust her since she has disappointed him too often. 60 years later, invited to Signe's burial, he will understand while reading all letters that both women only wanted the best for him.
