The head of the Pervomaiskaya Railway, at the first stage of perestroika, having accidentally learned that they want to fire him from his job, decides to carry out an experiment he had long planned - to put a super-heavy train on the tracks...

Kalman, released from the colony under an amnesty, turns out to be the only one who comes to the aid of a woman whose child was kidnapped...

The journey of sculptor Akzholtoy begins with a somber telegram: Esengeldi, a close family friend, has passed away. Returning to his village with his mother to honor the memory of Esengeldi, Akzholtoy finds himself enveloped by the echoes of his own distant childhood.

Aisulu Akhmatova is a renowned cotton grower, but her rising fame sparks resentment in her husband, who assaults her in the very fields where she works. With her daughter, Aisulu seeks refuge at her parents’ home, only to face judgment from those around her. Determined to rebuild her life, she takes a job at a virgin lands collective farm, where she is appointed brigade leader and entrusted with the daunting task of cultivating a barren, rocky field.

A village boy awaits his father's return from the front. Though he doesn't yet know the alphabet, he begins composing letters and enrolls in school early to learn to write. He believes the Moon Witch — a figure from a fairytale — is behind all the misfortunes of war. In his dreams, he battles her on the moon as she casts black letters — death notices — down to Earth...

At the center of the film is the character of Asan, a collective farm foreman. Asan is a principled man who makes many enemies among the lazy, drunkards, and dishonest people. As a result of these rumors, Asan is dismissed from his position, but this does not break him. He continues to act according to his conscience.