Albert is obsessed with Christmas. The moment December begins, he pulls out all the holiday decorations from the attic. But his son Herbert doesn’t share the same festive spirit. Tired of Albert’s over-the-top enthusiasm, Herbert decides that this year, they’ll each celebrate Christmas their own way—separately.

As the successful actor Ingrid arrives at her daughter's 35th birthday party, her unexpected return is not as well received as she has hoped. Instead, her years as an absent mother come to the fore and the gap between mother and daughter are felt to be an abyss.