DuringtheYugoslavbreak-up,FederalArmyofficerisfedupwithwarandtakessomeleaveinBelgrade.However,itturnsoutthatheislesshauntedbywarhorrorsthanwithsomesentimentalskeletonsinthecloset.HemeetshisformercomradeandbestfriendwhoisAWOL,butcan'treporthimbecausehehadanaffairwithhiswife.Twofriends,PavleTrusicandAleksaVeljacic,officersintheYugoslavarmyandonceinlovewiththesamewoman,NadezdaTrusic,meetagainduringthecivilwar.PavleisnowarefugeefromVukovar,andAleksaisamilitaryjudge.Theymeetunderdramaticcircumstances,whichculminateinthedeathofPavle'sdaughter.ItisuncertainwhetherthefatheroftheunfortunategirlisPavleorAleksa.Thedramadevelopsintoanewlove-intrigueoverthedaughterofadeserter,withtragicresults.Thefilmfocusesontheabsurdityofwar,thelovestorybeingametaphorfortreacheryinwartime.DeserterwasfilmedonlocationinBelgradeandVukovar.