Sitting on a pole is a favourite folk contest in the Netherlands. For Taeke, the unusual sport becomes a way out of the gloomy reality of the 30s. It is also a test of patience and balance, which have helped him to win over other competitors. Passive sitting gradually becomes his fate, meaning of life, which is filled with observing an even water level, the flight of birds and the cycle of seasons. However, his tender love to beautiful Tjitske and his hatred towards Rintjem, a rich man also in love with her, finally bring about the moment when he must decide whether or not to remain just a passive observer…
