1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.

Viktoriya Miroshnichenko
as Iya Sergueeva

Vasilisa Perelygina
as Masha

Konstantin Balakirev
as Stepan

Kseniya Kutepova
as Lyubov Petrovna

Olga Dragunova
as Seamstress

Andrey Bykov
as Nikolay Ivanovich

Igor Shirokov
as Sasha

Timofey Glazkov
as Pashka

Alyona Kuchkova
as Stepan's Wife

Veniamin Kac
as Sasha's Friend
Stephen Campbell
_**Very bleak and somewhat compelling – a film I admired more than I liked**_ >_The basis for the Stakhanov movement was first and foremost the radical improvement in the material welfare of the workers. Life has improved, comrades. Life has become more joyous. And when life is joyous, work goes ...