[2] In the early 1940s, following the German invasion of Yugoslavia and the establishment of the Ustaše-run Croatian Nazi puppet state, citizens of Zagreb face numerous hardships.

To rescue Ruth, a Jewish girl, from the clutches of the Nazis and their collaborators, a Croatian Catholic family orchestrates her marriage to their young son, Ivo.

Following this realization, he begins to form a closer emotional bond with Ruth, spending time with her and even taking her out to a park, despite the prohibition against Jews doing so.

During a bomb alert, Ruth seizes a rare opportunity to venture out alone but is devastated when she discovers her father's name on a bulletin board, signifying his execution.

Inside the Ninth Circle, Ivo witnesses a grotesque scene as Ustaše officers cruelly dance with terrified women.

Spotting Ruth, Ivo rescues her, and they hide in a guard tower, planning to escape during the rumored power outage at midnight.

The film was also released in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., the Soviet Union, France, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Israel, Argentina, Australia, and Japan.

However, he also calls the film "old-fashionedly expressive", noting that from a modern perspective, the viewing experience seems "archaic", especially in regards to aspects like shot composition and its inappropriately ostentatious soundtrack.