Vladimir Bamdasov

Based on the play of the same name by M. Saltykov-Shchedrin. A young liberal-minded official named Bobyrev arrives in St. Petersburg from the provinces. He hopes to build a career under the patronage of his former schoolmate Klaverov, who has become a general. The general gladly assigns Bobyrev to his office and is already making plans to use Bobyrev’s beautiful wife, Sofia, to wage a successful campaign against his opponents and influence the pleasure-seeking Minister Tarakanov...

The entire story unfolds during a wedding. The characters of the play, looking at the happy faces of the newlyweds, recall their own love and weddings. The action gradually unfolds on three levels, in three different time periods, covering the youth and lives of three generations, alongside which the author’s own life has passed.

The secretary of the city party committee, Sattarov, is an active, principled person, determined in achieving his goals. His authority and expertise allowed for the accelerated construction of the factory complex. Even though he is seriously ill, he remains just as demanding, yet sensitive to the people around him.

One evening, the bell rings at Commissioner Maigret's house. Minister of Construction Puan asks the commissioner to come to his apartment urgently, keeping this request a secret from the police authorities. At the meeting, it turns out that a report disappeared from the minister's apartment, with which Puan was supposed to speak at a government meeting two days later.