Swede Mikkel Nordergren unexpectedly inherits a lakeside property with a house in Brandenburg from his deceased father. Much to the chagrin of his neighbor Marlies Gottlieb, who lives in seclusion on her property, alone with herself and her songbirds. Mikkel is now disturbing her peace. Not only is he looking for a buyer for his house and hires Marlies' daughter Lia, of all people, who is an estate agent, but in the best Swedish tradition of 'everyman's right', he also wants to reopen the old riverside path, which Marlies had closed years ago, to the general public. The dispute between the two neighbors rekindles an old argument with the village community about access to the lake.