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.