Vladimir Ponochevny

In the Belarusian city of Rogachev, there lived a poor nobleman named Gervasy Vylivakha—a joker and merry fellow, a drunkard and a debauchee. He lived in style, without looking back, and when the time came to leave this world of the living, Gervasy did not lose his presence of mind and began a game with Death itself.

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.

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In ancient times of famine and Tatar raids, the satirist Yuras Bratchik appears to the people in the guise of Christ, and the people believe in a miracle. The cunning monk Bosyatsky decides to use this event. Arrested by order of the Cardinal, Yuras and his friends - "apostles", disguised and dressed in appropriate clothes, are brought to the people. The hungry people begin to beg for bread, and Yuras leads the crowd to the bins of the rich. Having escaped from the Cardinal, Yuras and his friends take refuge in a convent. With the help of the people they defeat both the attacking Tatars and the Cardinal's army.