Bettina and Marcus, a passionate couple, live in a canteen in the middle of a vast field with endless lines of pylons. Marcus, trying to set up his own business, works as a foreman in the maintenance of these power-lines. Bettina, bored and longing for a better life, runs the canteen for the workingmen. Their 9-years-old daughter Tessa, wanders the industrial area, looking for bits and pieces to occupy her mind, skipping school whenever she can. When Marcus hires a Hungarian engineer, Szabolcs, to become part of his company, their unconventional way of living takes a new turn. A tragic accident although will shatter everyones pursuit of happiness.

在 24 小时内连续完成三场马拉松比赛，两个赌友以及一百万美元的赌注。当一切都处于危急关头时，生活中还有什么值得我们坚持的呢？

八零年代的匈牙利还是封闭铁幕下的社会结构，少年冬戈（Dongó）就在那样的环境下，从小接受严厉的体操训练，他赢得各项比赛，但父母受到孩子得奖光环的影响，忽视了冬戈还是个孩子的事实。教练铁血的指导也让他身心受创。青少年时期，压抑的情绪终于爆发出来，他短暂告别了体操，虽然之后他重回体操界并赢得世界冠军，但那段逝去的经历始终困扰着他。他选择放下比赛，担任教练。
十多年后他受邀到加拿大教导体操，却因为教导方式，遭到撤换，为了保住工作，他剩下一个机会 ── 训练天赋禀异的凯尔（Kyle），但凯尔压根不理会冬戈的训练，而凯尔的倔强，也唤起了冬戈身为运动员的自觉，他决定再一次参加大赛，与凯尔竞争冠军头衔。