At the seafront garden, the members of The Worker's Youth Union and the members of fascist organization are fighting. Absorbed in their feelings Vladko and Aneto have nothing to do with those events. Things at Aneto's big wealthy home look very different from Vladko's small house huddled in the yard. Kiril, Vladko's elder brother, is anxious about Vladko who should have been at the rally, but is writing poetry instead. Aneto and Vladko are happily dancing at the school-leavers' ball. Kiril has killed a German officer. The ball breaks out. Aneto has disappeared in the confusion. Vladko goes to look after her. A group of people armed with clubs and knuckle-dusters beat him cruelly because he is Kiril's brother. Kiril has joined the partisans. Vladko is seriously ill and dies. Kiril and his comrades continue the struggle.

When a road construction detour forces former lovers Boyan and Neda to cross paths after seventeen years, they are compelled to spend a day traveling together toward Sofia. Their idealistic romance in the 1950s contrasts with their current lives as disillusioned, middle-aged professionals. As they talk, they confront the personal and social choices that led to their eventual separation.

A Bulgarian movie

Under Ottoman rule, the artist Boyan secretly becomes the masked avenger “Halata,” defending villagers against the usurer Hristo and Ali Chaush’s oppression. When Tzveta discovers his dual identity, Boyan’s actions spark a national uprising as armed villagers rally to overthrow their tyrannical overlords.