In a Small Town

The tragic events in Georgian history, spanning from the 16th to the 18th centuries, culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk in 1783, which placed Georgia under Russian protection.

Kulak Walter's successor, Robert, calls his fellow villagers to form a collective farm. The poor peasantry of the village actively supports his call. The first collective farm of German colonists "Rote Fane" (Red Flag) is created. Local kulaks begin to fight against him. Under the influence of the kulaks' agitation, part of the middle-class colonists went to Germany. The collective farm grows and becomes stronger, and the kulaks weaken. Walter bribes his watchman, old Shakir, and incites him to kill Robert. But Shakir can't beat Robert. He exposes Walter's nefarious intentions and joins the collective farm. A letter comes from the departed colonists, reporting that there is an economic crisis and unemployment in Germany, and expressing regret for following the provocation and leaving the Soviet Union.

Second World War. The fascists attack Svaneti. Old Betkili, whose son was killed in the war, lives far from the village. The old man comes across a Soviet soldier, Lasha, and shelters him in the mountains, but soon finds the soldier’s behavior suspicious.

A just man becomes an outlaw. He is pursued by the police over the years, while he tries to fight the injustice in the world, but he can't figure out the minds of his fellow men, and is often misunderstood.

Characters from the sick Nikala's own paintings appear and talk to him.

Engineer Japaridze, in order to speed up the construction of the hydroelectric station, grossly violates the safety rules and causes a disaster. He is sentenced to a long prison term.