Kirile Macharadze

Banned in the Soviet Union for its "negative" content and never released, Kalatozov was forced to retreat from filmmaking for seven years because of this film. The film sets out to illustrate the old adage, "For want of a nail, the battle was lost," showing how the inferior quality of something so trivial as a nail in a soldier's boot leads inexorably to the capture of an armored train. Kalatozov had intended to demonstrate the crucial and universal importance of efficiency in Soviet industry, but the government decided that his fable gave a negative impression of the Red Army's capabilities.

Agricultural machinery is being unloaded from a ship at the Batumi port. The chairman of the collective farm asks the loaders to unload them first, due to the need to carry out work in the countryside on time. The loaders demand additional pay. Angered by the behavior of their senior comrades, the Komsomol members, led by Beso, unload the machinery themselves. After that, the old loader, Sergo, becomes angry with Beso. His daughter Kato marries Beso against her father's will. But Beso, like Sergo, forbids Kato from getting involved in public life. He only wants his wife as a domestic servant. Kato returns to his father with his son. Meanwhile, there are changes at the port. Due to mechanization, the loaders' work is significantly lighter. Sergo reconciles with Beso. The young people also reconcile. Kato starts working at a public canteen.

The modest Sandro does not dare to reveal his love to Maro, who, in turn, is very jealous of Sandro’s friendship with a female football instructor. Maro’s suspicions are unfounded, as Sandro is passionate about football and has only a sporting interest in the instructor.

A dead hen becomes a problem between two neighbor families in Ajara (west Georgia). That leads to drama; a young guy is killed in the next quarrel.

The action of the film takes place in 1905-07. The main characters are a revolutionary who escaped from Metekhi prison and two brothers who hate each other.

Varden, a poor peasant decides to find a rich fiancée but in vain. Following Galaktion, his rich neighbor’s advice, he attempts a horse theft but fails and nearly escapes death. Thanks to Jujuna, his other neighbor, he finds job at the village’s blacksmith.