Winter 1942. Beyond the Arctic Circle, on the uninhabited island of Trofimovsk in the Laptev Sea, exiled peoples struggle to survive. This is the place chosen by Soviet authorities to deport vast numbers of inhabitants from the occupied Baltic countries, Finland, Ukraine, and elsewhere. In this harsh, alien landscape, humans are mere specks. Against the backdrop of such majestic isolation, many thousands face the savage indifference and cruelty of nature. Always living on the edge, they must find a way to survive. All experiences depicted are based on the vivid memories of those who survived.