Spring1989.HighupintheIndianHimalayas,whereeventhebirdsflylowtoavoidgettinglostintheclouds,thesoft-spokenDevownsasprawlingestateofseveralorchardsandlivesinacolonial-stylehousewithhisfamily.Hespendsalotofhistimebuildinghuman-sizedwingswhichheputsontotakeaquickmorningflightoverhisland.Oneday,whilewalkingthroughtheestate,hediscoversasingleburntappletree.Afewdayslater,moretreesareburnt.Devandhismanagermonitortheworkersontheplantationsandthisleadstounrest.Agroupofnomadscomesundersuspicionandacorruptpoliceofficergetsinvolved,whileloyalmencampoutintheorchardstokeepavigilantwatchatnight.Despiteallthesemeasures,amassivefirebreaksoutaweeklaterandengulfsanentiremountainsideoftrees.Inhissearchfortheculprit,Devresortstoarmedviolence.Theslowburningoftheorchardsforceshimtofacethetruthabouthimselfandhisfamily.