根据台湾女作家罗兰的短篇小说改编，故事描述外表柔弱却个性坚毅的阿金，和以卖馒头为生的老吴互相暗恋的故事。李翰祥用不逊于古装巨片的制作态度亲自执导这个小人物的爱情故事，饱含浓郁而真实的中国人情风味，在片中搭建起足以乱真的三峡小街市集，使这部文艺小品显得十分生动自然、不落俗套。归亚蕾饰演的阿金细腻动人，是全片最大亮点。外貌粗犷的男主角田野也有恰如其分的表现，使阿金与老吴相濡以沫的一段情令人心头温暖。

The winters in Northern China could become rather bitter and harsh especially if one must endure it alone. Hoping to spend his last winter in solitude, a timid man must declare his love for his sweetheart before her family forces her to be married off.