follows the life of the Jewish Popper family during the occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War Two. Slowly but surely the last traces of enjoyment disappear from the lives of people. In its place are humiliation and fear. The heroism of ordinary people is emphatically present in this mood. Leo Popper, the father of the family, is man who apparently has no trouble adapting to difficult situations and this talent comes in very useful during the occupation. For instance he manages to reclaim the fish the Germans have taken from him. His behaviour, almost reckless, is also eventually the salvation of the family. When he finds out his sons are to be deported to a concentration camp, he wants them be strong as they face this situation. With a friend he trains a dog to hunt deer and kill so that the children can have meat to eat. This is a dangerous undertaking as poaching is punishable by death.
