Born in 1955 in Soviet-era Estonia, Erik leads a seemingly ordinary life working at the Palamuse Piimakombinaat. His days are filled with the routines of factory work and the quiet rhythms of rural life, shared with his close friend and coworker, Jaan. His evenings are spent navigating the complexities of his relationships, currently with his common-law partner, Liis. Erik’s world is upended when a chance encounter with Old Man Tõnu, a mysterious figure in Palamuse, hints at long-held family secrets connected to his birth in Kursi Hospital and early childhood in Vändra. Spurred by this revelation and haunted by the tragic death of his younger brother Allan, Erik begins a journey to uncover the truth, delving into his family’s past and confronting the ghosts of Soviet Estonia.
Erik’s quest leads him through fragmented memories, cryptic conversations with his stoic mother, Elsa, and the assistance of his sisters, Lisa and Anna. Kadri Tamm, a meticulous archivist in Jõgeva County, reluctantly aids Erik’s research, unearthing inconsistencies that deepen the mystery. As Erik pieces together the puzzle, he revisits old relationships with the mother of his children, and his ex-wife, Helga, each encounter casting new light on his past choices and the social pressures of the time. His sons, David and William, provide different perspectives, David offering analytical support, and William, emotional insight. Erik’s journey becomes a powerful exploration of family, identity, and the enduring search for truth amidst the shifting colors of history, forcing him to reconcile his idealized memories with the harsh realities of the past and find peace in the present.
