Valentin Pavlovskiy

The film covers the period from 1900 to 1917. Historical events—the Russo-Japanese War, January 9, and others—are shown through the eyes of a mother who begins to realize that her children have many like-minded followers, and thanks to this, she comes to believe in the feasibility of the ideals for which her eldest son sacrificed himself. Only the awareness that his cause is not hopeless, that it is achievable and close to victory, gives her the courage to endure separation from her loved ones and wandering.

In order not to hand over grain to the state at fixed prices, a rich peasant (kulak) buries 600 pounds of grain in the ground. Meanwhile, a communist worker arrives in the village of Gorbani to organize grain procurements. In the fight against kulaks, he manages to win over the poor villagers to his side.

Alexei Kovalchuk, who dreams of distant voyages, currently serves on the rescue ship Gremuchiy and annoys the entire crew with his lack of discipline. The captain and sailors desperately try to reform him. But it is only when battling the elements to rescue the stricken ship Belogorsk that Alexei shows composure and determination — and ultimately decides to stay on the Gremuchiy.

Sixth-graders Oleg, Vasya and Vitya go with their pioneer detachment on a hike across the Crimea.