The film actions unfold in 1971, telling about the four days of life of famous writer Sergei Dovlatov. The film raises the eternal issue of the Russian and European culture - the issue of moral choice.
A dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.
1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.