In the center of the story are middle—aged women who live far from the capital and fight every day for a decent existence , one of them was lucky — despite everything, she allowed herself love.

In the center of the story are middle—aged women who live far from the capital and fight every day for a decent existence , one of them was lucky — despite everything, she allowed herself love.

The private detective Zimin receives an order for video observation of an apartment. Having safely mounted the bugs and cameras, he begins the observation. In the field of his surveillance cameras are two young women the pharmacist Irina and a certain blonde woman. Gradually he finds out more and more about their problems. At some stage, Zimin begins to understand that the life of the people he observes reflects in a crooked mirror his own life that had hitherto appeared cloudless.

May 9 is one of the most important days in Russia, Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. In 2020, during the quarantine period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people in the small Russian town of Trubchevsk celebrated this day without leaving their homes.

In the center of the story are middle—aged women who live far from the capital and fight every day for a decent existence , one of them was lucky — despite everything, she allowed herself love.

Lilya (Marina Zubanova) is an approaching-middle-age singleton who lives with and cares for her grandfather and works at a chicken factory. She is determined to get married soon, but hasn’t quite found the man for the job. Most of the story revolves around various failed dates, her conversations with coworkers and family members, and her innocent stalking of a talented local pianist.

Blending dramatic situations with a documentary-influenced visual style, Happy Birthday looks in at a typical day in a Russian maternity hospital. The patients range from a middle aged woman pleased if surprised by her current pregnancy to a Muslim woman whose marriage to a Russian has blighted her relationship with her family. No matter what their situations, the women draw strength and support from each other as they share their common experience.

In a small town everything is visible. However much you try to hide something, some disturbing signals will reach the family sooner or later. And then you have to make a choice: start a new life in the same place with your new “half” or confess to the old half and return to the usual flow of life. The film’s heroes stand before such a choice.

In a small town everything is visible. However much you try to hide something, some disturbing signals will reach the family sooner or later. And then you have to make a choice: start a new life in the same place with your new “half” or confess to the old half and return to the usual flow of life. The film’s heroes stand before such a choice.