The film stars Finnish actor Pertti Koivula in the lead role as Tenho, a prodigal son with patent leather shoes and dancing skills to match, who returns home to his family's rural farm for the summer after failing to make a living in the city.
Tenho's brother Aarne (Taisto Reimaluoto) runs the farm while Grandma ("Mummo") (Anja Pohjola), the boys' mother, as the matriarch, tends to farm chores while caring for her boys' father (Veikko Tiitinen) in his failing physical and mental health.
That's when Virva turns to ice and Tenho's feelings change to crazed obsession.
The film also features live performances by Finnish tango musician Reijo Taipale.
In theaters, the film received just under 15,000 viewers, but the first television screening in 1993 was seen by more than a million Finns.