Lapland, Sweden. The Sami Arvi wants to marry young Aino but her mother will not give her permission as long as Arvi does not have a herd of 400 reindeer. The only one who has reindeer to sell is the rich Oula, but he wants to marry Aino as well. The only way for Arvi to get the animals is buying them from Norway - but this is highly illegal.