Hans Leberecht

When Paul Runge, a soldier of the Red Army, returns home to Koordi after the war, he sees that, despite the new regime, life in Koordi hasn't changed. It's still a abandoned, uncultured Estonian village, where rich landlords still oppress the population. Runge starts talking about founding a kolkhoze.

Andrus Laane comes from a fisherman's village. He dreams of becoming a captain to sail the seas but fails the entrance exams to the marine academy. By accident he starts working at a big gas plant. Sharp-witted young man with innovative ideas will be recognized. He will also find his first true love. It seems that Andrus has found his happiness, even if not at sea.

Mari has successfully led a collective farm in 1950s and fulfilled all tasks given from the authorities. Nonetheless, things in the collective farm become progressively worse. The Committee of the Communist Party sends its representative Peeter who learns that Mari acts as a tyrant for the local people. She has to resign during the elections of the new manager. Being without authority has a damaging effect on her so she starts to regain her position with the help of her old stalinist tricks.