La acción tiene lugar en un futuro lejano. En Moscú tiene lugar el programa de televisión más popular del mundo, en el que once personas se reunirán para descubrir quién es civil y quién es un mafioso. Hay mucho en juego: el ganador recibirá un gran premio en efectivo, pero los perdedores obtendrán la muerte.
The film is an attempt to recreate the world of Marc Chagall and his myth within the genre of a folklore ballad. We are not exploiting Chagall's images, but are attempting to create a dramatized projection of his creativity onto the movie screen, relying on both, facts and fantasy (as Chagall himself would).The story is based on real events which occurred at the time of Chagall's short-lived period in Vitebskin in 1917-18, during which time he creates the Academy of Modern Art, inspired by his dreams of a bright and beautiful future. Many pictures by Chagall and Malevich are used in the film.
