Iskra (the name translates to "spark") wakes up in a black, soot-covered apartment. She opens the balcony door to let in a glimpse of light. Stuck inside, she cleans the blackness away all day while her grandfather, obsessed with the past, burns documents and old newspapers all night. New soot settles on the walls and Iskra wakes up to another day of cleaning. Her only friend is a chicken, who lives on the balcony and lays walnuts. While feeding it, Iskra takes notice of a young man in the courtyard. He shows up at her apartment the next day. Grandfather throws him out but the young man's arrival, awakens a longing for the outside world inside Iskra and she starts dreaming of breaking free from her dull routine. Another day of cleaning awaits. When a fight with her grandfather escalates, Iskra takes her chicken and jumps off the balcony. Her dress gets stuck in the door frame and she remains floating in limbo between past and future while the chicken marches on.