MaskedfigureswithmachinegunsmarchintothesecondaryschoolinKaratas,takethepupilshostage,andexecuteoneofthem.Theymakenodemands.Silentterroristheirmodusoperandi.Seeingasthearmywilltaketwodaystoarriveduetoasnowstorm,mathsteacherTazshidecidestoassemblehisownassaultteam:hisex-wife,thegymteacher,thecowardlyschoolprincipal,analcoholicnightwatchman,thevillageidiot,andanincompetentchiefofpolice.
Whatfollowsisnotraditionalactionfilm,butathrillerwithsnatchesofcomedy,inwhichtheenemyisn’thiddenbehindmasks,butisinthemindsoftheliberators.Beforetheyact,theyhavetoovercometheirpersonaldemons.Comparisonstotheschoolhostage-takingsinBeslanandKazanareobvious,yetKaratas–themythicalvillagewheremuchofdirectorAdilkhanYerzhanov’sworkisset–couldbeanywhere.Itisuniversallyacknowledgedthatcrisesbringoutpeople'struenatures.