The story takes place in August 1991, when in the former USSR there was an unsuccessful attempt of a political coup led by the Soviet intelligence services and the Soviet Union collapsed. However, this political struggle is only a background for dramatic events that occurred with the main characters of the film in a Soviet government villa in Crimea, where they were spending their summer holidays. The nightmare of their relationship reflects present and future nightmares of their country.
Alexandra, a young girl of seventeen, goes to Moscow to study painting and to find love. After a while, however, she discovers that her dreams are not easily reached. She has to leave Moscow, unable to enrol in a college or to meet her beloved. Eventually, her real talent and love will find a way to shine.
Vadim Yershov has lost everything he had: family, home, favorite job. His daughter is attached to a wheel-chair after an accident that happened partly by his fault. From this stress, Vadim accumulated so much negative energy that now he can literally kill by his word and look. A big-scale scammer Avenir decides to use Vadim's gift in his interest, offering help with medical treatment for his daughter. Through Avenir, Vadim meets with a wonderful woman named Yelena. His love to her helps him to cure his daughter and his own soul.
In June 1941, the Extraordinary Defense Headquarters of Leningrad, under the leadership of Zhdanov and Voroshilov, decided to build the Luga defensive line. Heavy fighting west of Pskov forced units of the front to withdraw, and on July 9, Pskov was also abandoned. The battles in the Luga direction held back the enemy. The first attacks of the Germans, intending to cross the Luga line on the move, were repulsed with heavy losses for them.
