When Jan is born in Paarl in 1953, he nearly dies of severe haemophilia. He survives – only to discover, at the start of his career, that he is HIV-positive from receiving contaminated blood products. Despite this, Jan goes on to have a remarkable career but it is only after retirement that he has the opportunity to indulge his lifelong obsession: to recover the family silver. He travels to Ukraine armed only with a hand-drawn map and the help of a few shady characters. Many misadventures ensue.