In 1930's Sweden, a vocally impaired but otherwise intelligent man named Sven, is faced with the death of his dear mother. Lacking education and any kind of social skills, he is taken in by a factory owner named John Höglund. Due to his poor vocal skills, he is seen as imbecill, and is left to sleep and live in a barn near the factory. A family that lives nearby are the only ones to show him warmth and kindness. The same family is constantly being harassed by John Höglund, who wants to buy their property. And when Höglund starts to use awful methods to get what he wants, a deep hatred begins to grow inside Sven...