The film is based on a book "Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow" by Peter Hoeg. One day Smilla Qaavigaaq Jaspersen's friend (Esajas) falls off the roof and is killed in what seems to be an accident. But Smilla believes he has been murdered. Highly ranked people try to convince her not to interfere, but she does not listen to them and tries to solve the crime. Her sense of snow leads her into a mystery with roots far back in time.