Swedish composer/conductor Martin and concertmaster Barbara fall in love. After their divorces, they're happily married. While composing an opera, Martin is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It slowly changes him.
On a train in 1945 a train conductor is in charge of a motley bunch: a failed author who means well but creates chaos; a soldier who is actually on the wrong train; a doctor who wants to murder his wife; a gay man who hates men; and two nuns with religious doubts.
A famous international conductor returns to his small childhood town in Sweden for early retirement. He's asked to help with the church choir. He affects the lives of all in the choir.