Undisturbedbythegunshotsinthebackgroundandthecorpsefloatingbyonthemuddyriver,amotleygroupofmenaregamblingwiththeirmoneyasifthere'snotomorrow.WhenDonaihasnobillsleft,hewagersallofhispossessionsandvaluablesbutlosesthemtoIbragim,whoisnottoothrilledaboutthisturnofevents.Afterall,themeagerbelongingsinDonai'sapartmenthavelittlevalue.ButthenMira,Donai'syoungandbeautifuldaughter,comestovisitfromRussiaandIbragiminsiststhatshewillcomewithhim,despiteherloudprotests.Daler,ayoungandcharmingwheeler-dealerwhoispartofthegamblinggroup,isimmediatelysmittenwithMiraandstealsherawaywhileIbragimandDonaiarearguing.Withthehelpofhersavior,MiragetstoknowthelifeinDushanbe,acitywherethesoundsoffrequentburstsofmachinegunsandsirenspunctuatethedays,andnightsarepatrolledbytanksenforcingmartiallaw.AsMirareluctantlybeginstoreturnDaler'sadvances,thetwofindanunlikelyrefuge-afunicularwherehehasbeenstaying,withtheoperatingboothandthecablecarsservingastheircozyhome.UnderDaler'scontrolandsuspendedintheairwithDushanbedownbelowandthesnow-cappedmountainsinthehorizonfaraway,thefunicularbecomestheirhaven.Asboththeirfathersarelookingeverywhereforthem,DalerandMiraattempttheimpossible:tothinkaboutloveinatimeofwar.