Set in 1914, Ali (Adam Bakri) is an educated young Muslim noble living in Baku, the oil-rich capital of Azerbaijan. Nino (Marfa Valverde) is a regal Christian girl from Georgia. Although desperately in love, their relationship is beset by familial objections, religious divides, violent social customs and the very real threat of war-time conflict, which all look set to keep them apart. As revolution brews and Azerbaijan seeks independence from Russia, Ali and Nino find themselves caught in a world of dramatic change where their love for each other is the only constant.