Vladimir Tendryakov

The young machine operator Fyodor Soloveikov marries Stesha from a neighboring village and moves to live with her parents in a house. Young and energetic, he suffocates in the petty bourgeois world of the family, living away from collective farm life. Quarrels arise between young people, where old men pour oil of discord. Not receiving proper support from his wife, Fyodor leaves home.

At a dusty crossroads in the Soviet Union villagers surrender their possessions - a horse, a samovar, a goat - to the state. The train which takes them away brings to the village a physically and mentally handicapped woman, barely able to speak. She makes herself bracelets of burrs and studies herself in a cracked and cloudy mirror. Befriended by very few, teased and tormented by many she seeks protection at a huge portrait of Stalin.

For 49 days, four young soldiers drifted on a barge that was blown out to sea by a storm. Only by the end of the seventh week they were discovered by American pilots.

The farm's chairman took the late secretary's teenage son into his house.

It consists of three short stories united by the theme of war: "Where Are You, Lyubov Dunyashova?", "You Have Me", "Everyday Matters".

Rodka Gulyaev is a pupil of the Gumniskii rural secondary school. One day on the bank of the river he digs out the darkened old icon. Unfortunately for him his grandmother Avdotya, an overbearing and cunning old woman, spreads a rumor that the icon is miraculous, and her grandson is a saint.

The young machine operator Fyodor Soloveikov marries Stesha from a neighboring village and moves to live with her parents in a house. Young and energetic, he suffocates in the petty bourgeois world of the family, living away from collective farm life. Quarrels arise between young people, where old men pour oil of discord. Not receiving proper support from his wife, Fyodor leaves home.

At a dusty crossroads in the Soviet Union villagers surrender their possessions - a horse, a samovar, a goat - to the state. The train which takes them away brings to the village a physically and mentally handicapped woman, barely able to speak. She makes herself bracelets of burrs and studies herself in a cracked and cloudy mirror. Befriended by very few, teased and tormented by many she seeks protection at a huge portrait of Stalin.

For 49 days, four young soldiers drifted on a barge that was blown out to sea by a storm. Only by the end of the seventh week they were discovered by American pilots.

The farm's chairman took the late secretary's teenage son into his house.

It consists of three short stories united by the theme of war: "Where Are You, Lyubov Dunyashova?", "You Have Me", "Everyday Matters".

Rodka Gulyaev is a pupil of the Gumniskii rural secondary school. One day on the bank of the river he digs out the darkened old icon. Unfortunately for him his grandmother Avdotya, an overbearing and cunning old woman, spreads a rumor that the icon is miraculous, and her grandson is a saint.

Three of them hunted a bear, but a man was accidentally killed instead. The investigation must determine which of the hunters is responsible for this death. However, there is also a judgment of conscience — the most difficult judgment, because a compromise with one's own conscience never leads to good.

A story of a thirteen year old boy who lives in North Russia and is forced to make some difficult decisions.