SYNOPSIS:

A husband and wife, with their three children, daringly escape Czechoslovakia by submitting for an approved vacation to Yugoslavia. From there they plan to cross the Austrian border in hopes to make it to the refugee camp in Traiskirchen. Crossing the border is not as easy as they imagined and the border guards report them to their home country and order them to return home or they will be arrested. The family has nothing left to come to and they must risk their lives to cross over at all costs. Once making it to the refugee camp in Traiskirchen, they realize what is to come is even more of a challenge than the path it took to get there. The family is forced to live in a small room, cramped, with nothing but time on their hands while they wait for the opportunity to interview and be able to immigrate with the countries accepting refugees. While the wife finds work under the table, the husband slowly begins to give into depression and drinks and gambles his worries away. Their kids are tormented by the native students who despise immigrants, meanwhile the fellow immigrants that are among them stir up further trouble. After a rejection from Canada, America finally accepts the family as refugees. The families marriage and strength continues to be tested as it takes years for processing. Others around them have turned back home, committed suicide, or turned to crime. The family must stay strong and away from trouble if they hope to reach sanctuary.