On the Tibetan grasslands, Darje and Drolkar live a serene and ordinary life with their three sons and grandfather. The young boys’ discovery of their parents’ dwindling supply of condoms sparks a series of embarrassments for the parents who get into arguments with other parents over their sons’ behaviour. When Drolkar’s sister returns home, now living as a nun, she is presented with a book written by a former love. This novel entitled ‘Balloon’ sets her on a path of soul-searching during her stay as she contemplates the man, their history, and her reasoning for becoming a nun in the first place. After this, the grandfather dies, forcing them to make a difficult decision that goes against official Chinese policy and breaking the family harmony.