1864

In 19th-century Denmark, two peasant brothers, Laust and Peter, are both in love with the same woman: Inge, the estate manager's daughter. When war with Prussia breaks out, the brothers report for duty in the Danish army and are sent to the front along with thousands of their fellow soldiers. Their relationship with Inge helps Laust and Peter as they encounter the horrors of war, but eventually, it creates a rift between them. Meanwhile, the leader of the Danish parliament rides a fervent wave of nationalism that prolongs the senseless conflict and sets the stage for one of the bloodiest battles in European history: the slaughter at Dybbøl Mill in 1864.