[2] With its stark focus on a life of poverty and desperation, the film is considered a masterpiece of social realism.

[3] In 1890 Kristiania (Oslo), an impoverished and lonely writer named Pontus (Per Oscarsson) comes to the city from the country.

He has written an article that a newspaper editor (Henki Kolstad) agrees to publish if he makes some corrections, but Pontus is too proud to accept an advance when offered, so he leaves elated but still hungry.

He applies for an accounting job but is rejected, and fails a physical exam to be a fireman because he wears glasses.

One hallucination revolves around Ylajali (Gunnel Lindblom), an apparently refined woman he has met on the street.