Ashes in the Snow

In 1941, sixteen-year-old Lina Vilkas enjoys a vibrant life in Kaunas, Lithuania, filled with artistic dreams, first loves, and the joys of youth. However, this idyllic existence is set against the backdrop of political turmoil as tensions rise in the Baltic region due to Soviet oppression.

Lina's father, Kostas, becomes involved in the Lithuanian resistance, crafting false documents for those seeking asylum from Soviet persecution. His actions put the family at risk, signaling the beginning of their descent into tragedy.

One night, Lina's family is violently taken by the NKVD, marking a catastrophic turn in their lives. Alongside her mother Elena, younger brother Jonas, and friend Andrius, they are deported to a gulag in the Altaysky region of Siberia, facing an uncertain future.

Upon arrival at the gulag, Lina and her family face harsh living conditions and relentless brutality. They witness the tragic fate of Ona, a mother devastated by the loss of her baby, who is driven to provoke her captors, leading to her death.

In a display of cruelty, Commander Komarov offers Lina and her fellow inmates the option of signing a confession for a reduced sentence of 25 years. Led by her mother's strength, Lina and Jonas refuse, facing even harsher conditions instead.

Life in the gulag becomes a desperate cycle of labor and despair as inmates toil to meet unbearable quotas. Despite the bleak reality, Lina channels her pain into art and writing, preserving memories of happier times and embedding secret messages for her father.

As Lina navigates the harsh gulag landscape, she grows closer to Andrius, who risks his safety to smuggle food to the prisoners. Their bond provides a glimmer of hope amidst despair, helping Lina to endure the chilling environment.

When Commander Komarov tries to recruit Elena as a translator, she bravely refuses to collaborate with her oppressors. This act of defiance exemplifies her strength and determination to protect her family at all costs.

Lina's audacious act of creating a caricature of Komarov as a monster leads to the destruction of her artwork. This harsh punishment reinforces the dangers of resistance and the dire stakes faced by inmates in the gulag.

Nikolai Kretzsky, an NKVD guard, develops an infatuation with Elena and is troubled by his role in the turmoil. After witnessing her strength, he turns against a fellow guard but faces the repercussions of his choices, ultimately being promoted and reassigned.

Lina, Elena, and Jonas are forcibly moved to the harsher conditions of Trofimovsky Island in the Laptev Sea. The transfer compounds their suffering, forcing them to grapple with the brutality of their new reality.

Tragedy strikes as Elena succumbs to the harsh conditions and deprivation in the gulag. Her death, brought about by a lack of rations and brutal circumstances, leaves a void in Lina's heart and ignites her desire for justice and humanity.

Kretzsky, haunted by Elena's fate, decides to protect Lina and Jonas after witnessing their suffering. He grants them freedom, offering a glimpse of hope amid the despair, and illustrating the complexity of human morality in such dire circumstances.

As the film concludes, Lina and Jonas walk along a windswept beach, gazing at a ship on the horizon that symbolizes their newfound freedom. The transformation of their once-desolate world into a landscape of hope marks a poignant end to their harrowing journey.