Two friends are unhappy with their fiancees who are dreadful homemakers and lousy cooks. When one of the girl's demands a maid, she is completely unaware of the contention that the maid will bring.

In post-communist Romania, young prosecutor Dumitru Costa is sent to investigate a miner's suspicious death in the Jiu Valley. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a network of corruption and negligence within the local mining community. Costa's pursuit of justice pits him against powerful interests, testing his resolve in a society struggling with the aftermath of transition.