Basedonthebook"EarlyJoys",thefilmissetin1910intheRussiancityofSaratovontheriverVolga.ThemaincharactersareKirillIzvekovandhisfirstlove-Lisa.Shedoesnotrespondtohislove,andherbehaviorishurtinghisfeelings.SoIzvekovbecomesdisillusionedwiththeworldaroundhim,andespeciallywiththerepressiveregimeoftheTzar.Heisfalselyaccusedofparticipatinginthepopularuprisingandspendsayearinprison.Afterthathebecomesprofessionallydevotedtosocialjustice.Hisstorycontinuesin"NeobyknovennoeLeto"(1979).