Civil War. Southern steppes of Russia. Circumstances bring together various people: the Chekist, professor, actor, nurse and White Guard officer posing as a vet. On two tachanka's they make their way into the city.

He's a troublemaker, he's nothing but trouble. And he's a terrible lover, even in the army, he's had a bad love affair. He decided to devote himself entirely to the military. One day he had the chance to become a hero, and he did.

Katusha, a country girl, is seduced and abandoned by Prince Nekludov. Nekludov finds himself, years later, on a jury trying the same Katusha for a crime he now realizes his actions drove her to. He follows her to imprisonment in Siberia, intent on redeeming her and himself as well.