About the difficult and tragic time of collectivization - the de-collectivization. Two puppeteers go around the villages to earn bread and lodging... One night in the woods they are followed by an evil force in the form of a little boy, and in the morning the puppeteers meet the Communists, who are on their way to dispossess the wealthy land

The young landowner Astakhov comes to check the affairs of his distant estate. He meets his neighbors and among them two young girls. The arrival of Astakhov destroys the calm of the usual estate life.

A murderer is using every possible trick in his efforts to escape from justice. He is extremely crafty in his ways of infiltrating the government. He becomes a politician with growing status and influence and an official immunity from prosecution.

A young master, Vladimir Dubrovsky, comes to the estate to visit his father, who has long been in litigation with his neighbor, the despotic landowner Troekurov. Having seriously insulted Dubrovsky Sr., Troekurov tries to go to peace, but the proud old man is adamant.