Ilie Guţu

The war, with its immorality and cruelty, touched the foundations - the "bridges of life" - of a simple Moldovan village...

A graduate of a technical university starts working in the supply department of a large factory. Enthusiastic, the hero doesn't get bored; instead, he successfully implements the latest advancements in electronic computing technology into the factory's operations.

For some time now, life in the family of Kozma Josan, the chairman of a collective farm in one of the Moldovan villages, has not been going well. In response to the indifference of his wife, Domnica, the Goat fell in love with Olga, a fellow villager, who reciprocated his feelings. But their happiness is like wormwood, bitter: everywhere they are haunted by Domnica's heavy gaze, in which anxiety and pain are frozen.

A journalism student Kostik is travelling, by river steamer, to the place of his internship in the village of Lower Lazureny, but by mistake he goes ashore at Upper Lazureny. While Kostika is trying to get out of the village and get to his destination, wonderful adventures happen.

The events take place in 1919 in Bessarabia.

Spring of 1944. In a small village on the banks of the Dniester River, at the kulak estate of Sanda Țițan, everyone awaits the arrival of Soviet power in their own way. Sanda’s eldest son, a Romanian officer, leaves home with the occupying forces. The younger sons head into the forest, taking their mother’s last savings with them. Nikolai withdraws deeper into himself, realizing the futility of his life and vaguely hoping for something new, something bright. And standing firm amidst all this turmoil is Alexandra, Sanda’s steadfast daughter-in-law.