During the Yugoslav break-up, Federal Army officer is fed up with war and takes some leave in Belgrade. However, it turns out that he is less haunted by war horrors than with some sentimental skeletons in the closet. He meets his former comrade and best friend who is AWOL, but can't report him because he had an affair with his wife. Two friends, Pavle Trusic and Aleksa Veljacic, officers in the Yugoslav army and once in love with the same woman, Nadezda Trusic, meet again during the civil war. Pavle is now a refugee from Vukovar, and Aleksa is a military judge. They meet under dramatic circumstances, which culminate in the death of Pavle's daughter. It is uncertain whether the father of the unfortunate girl is Pavle or Aleksa. The drama develops into a new love-intrigue over the daughter of a deserter, with tragic results. The film focuses on the absurdity of war, the love story being a metaphor for treachery in wartime. Deserter was filmed on location in Belgrade and Vukovar.