Saturday 17 April 1868 a large cargo ship went ashore close to Önglabrjótsnef by Reykjanes in Iceland. The ship was pitch black, had three masts and three levels. Between the many barrels of cod-liver oil - a fantastic wealth and a gift from God to the impoverished people living by the sea - the rescuers find something alive on the ship. They are shocked when they find the young, miserable girl Abba, who has Down’s syndrome. She is pregnant but nobody knows where she has come from.

The young botanist Fríðrikur B. Friðsjónsson, who is the farmer at Brekka, takes care of the girl as he feels sorry for her. But Abba is not allowed in the church as the priest does not like mentally challenged people who may disturb the service. When Abba dies Fríðrikur has the change to get even. Fríðrikur and the local priest, Baldur Skuggason, have a score to settle. The priest is not the good man which he pretends to be and on a winter’s day in 1883 when he goes fox hunting in the mountains everything comes to an unexpected conclusion.

Sjón skillfully weaves an exciting tragedy. A magical and beautiful story of love, malice and revenge in the harsh Icelandic landscape.