 Based on the book "Early Joys", the film is set in 1910 in the Russian city of Saratov on the river Volga. The main characters are Kirill Izvekov and his first love - Lisa. She does not respond to his love, and her behavior is hurting his feelings. So Izvekov becomes disillusioned with the world around him, and especially with the repressive regime of the Tzar. He is falsely accused of participating in the popular uprising and spends a year in prison. After that he becomes professionally devoted to social justice. His story continues in "Neobyknovennoe Leto" (1979).