A crime has been committed. The worst thing is murder... Who is the culprit? What are the motives for the crime? These and many related questions face police colonel Drobyshev and senior lieutenant Samarin. During the investigation, they encounter young people whose spiritual poverty is terrible in its moral consequences.

Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, and Bread, among other entities.

Pavel Nabatnikov, who fought in Afghanistan, returns to his village, determined to build a new house on his parents' ashes as the first step towards revitalizing the abandoned village.