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Set in Central Europe following the 1989 fall of Communism, this German-Hungarian ensemble piece centers on the reactions and attempts to get by in a brand new environment. Yura and Vadim are Russian musicians trying to get to Belgrade for a performance. Impoverished Sergei, is trying to get there too. He sells knives to earn the needed money. British Maggie and American Susan have drifted to Hungary in search of excitement. All five characters accidentally collide in the Bolshe Vita bar in Budapest. While Sergei continues selling his cutlery in the open-air market, Yura and Maggie begin an affair as do Susan and Vadim. Much of the story chronicles the short-lived euphoria that followed the demise of oppression, but unfortunately, the people's happiness abruptly ended when the realities of life without constant government intervention set in. So it goes for the characters as each begins drifting towards their disparate destinies.