Yuri Mingazitdinov

A comedy about Krushchev's 'Virgin Lands' project, to transform the barren and inhospitable spaces of the vast Soviet Union into fertile agricultural plains. A classically Socialist-Realist narrative of an individual's 're-education'. Zhenia, a hapless idler, arrives with a band of enthusiastic young Konsomol members to build a new town in the steppe. Although his dream, like that of all the young participants, is 'to become a tractor driver and a hero', he isn't prepared to work for the honour.

A family of collective farmers arrives in Kazakhstan. The husband, who had persuaded his wife to come in search of an easier life, is frightened by the very first difficulties and goes back home. But the woman stays, because she has fallen in love with a local man. There are no optimistic declarations—only a timid hope that she will take root in this new place, together with the birch trees she planted near the house.

Ichthyologist Tonya Tikhonova and the chief engineer of the fishery plant, Ryazanov, are heading to the fishing seiner "Squall" (Shkval). Tonya loves Ryazanov, and this love frightens her. Ryazanov is also the object of affection of Panna, the wife of Ermak, the captain of the seiner. "Squall" is on course for Krutaya Bay — promising a good catch. Ryazanov and Panna go to the bay to check the composition of the plankton.

The film consists of three novellas that criticize bribery, indifference, callousness, parasitism, and other human vices. "The Necklace." Aldan's mother left him to guard her ice cream cart while she went to the store to buy a necklace... "The Newlyweds." Sholpan received an anonymous letter and went to her husband's construction site to investigate the situation... "Believe It or Not." The protagonist of this novella is a sheep. Funny things happen to him...

Grisha secretly leaves for the virgin lands without his mother’s permission. The young man quickly adapts to the new hardships and soon, despite his age, becomes one of the leaders of the brigade. Grisha’s mother, Pelageya Maksimovna, arrives at the virgin-land state farm to take her son home, but she ends up staying there and, with motherly love, cooks food for the young pioneers of the virgin lands, who become as dear to her as her own son.