Valentina Lysenko

Having failed to enter the institute, Sergei got a job in a workshop to refill lighters. Giving all his free time to his new hobby - boxing, the hero in a short period of time achieves significant success and insists that the coach allowed him to the nearest competition. Having received a well-founded refusal, Sergei goes to another club and wins a victory over a famous boxer at a tournament. But the accidental victory does not bring him joy.

The movie takes place during Russia's civil war between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites (Mensheviks). Andrejka and Yarinka are a young betrothed couple in the village of Malinovka, caught between the battle lines. Gritsian is the leader of a Menshevik band who are planning to attack the village. Yarinka appeals to the local Bolshevik commander for his faction's help. The Bolsheviks quickly come up with a plan to save the village... but the plan requires Yarinka to enter into a pretend marriage with Gritsian.