Set amidst the backdrop of contemporary Russia, the narrative unfolds around an estranged couple going through a bitter divorce. Zhenya and Boris are eager to start their new lives with their respective lovers, having moved on emotionally from each other. Their 12-year-old son, Alexey, becomes an afterthought, a mere obstacle in their pursuit of personal happiness. Zhenya is consumed by her romance with a wealthy older man, while Boris grapples with his guilt over his relationship with a younger, pregnant woman. Their disregard for Alexey's emotional well-being is palpable as the boy recoils into a silent world of pain and neglect, his anguish manifested in a sequence where he overhears his parents arguing over custody. Neither desires the burden of raising him, a stance that alienates Alexey to the point of despair.

The simmering conflict takes a sudden turn when Alexey vanishes without a trace, prompting a frantic search. The couple is forced to reunite in the effort to find their son, their animosity taking a backseat to the fear of what might have befallen him. As volunteers and police comb through the bleak urban landscape, the parents confront the grim reality of their failed responsibilities. This search exposes them to the scrutiny of the judgmental society around them, and the cold efficacy of the bureaucratic police force, underscoring the emotional void at the heart of their familial breakdown.