1988年的布拉格，大提琴手路卡（Zdenek Sverák 饰）丢掉了乐团的工作多时，只能靠为殡仪馆伴奏和修补墓碑为生。这位大龄单身汉在女人面前颇有魅力，他也乐此不疲，但困窘的生活让他不得不违背初衷，与一位苏联女子假结婚以获得报偿。婚后几日，苏联女子转道投奔西德，将五岁幼子科里亚（Andrei Chalimon 饰）丢给路卡抚养，路卡有一搭没一搭的…

The action of the movie is set in the late 11th century Constantinople during the time of the 1st Crusade. The crusaders need the help of the emperor Alexius to get to Jerusalem while the latter tries to do his best to get rid of the unwelcome guests. At the same time Caesar Nicephorus plays his own game and betrays hi…