The film describes 24 hours in the life of a family on a isolated island. The father is a writer who has neglected his family for his art. There is also a son a son-in-law and Karin the schizophrenic daughter. The family gathers for a meal and a play put on by the son. The play reveals the disillusionment of the family with their father. Through the daughters tragedy however the father is able to make some contact with his son.