The forty-year-old commentator, summing up his life and realizing that his well-being is purely external and essentially nothing significant has been done, leaves for his native village, where, he hopes, he will be able to take a step towards his true vocation.

Kyrgyzstan, the 1920s. In a remote mountain village, against the will of the local elites and in defiance of centuries-old traditions, a woman—Urkuya Salieva—is elected chair of the agricultural cooperative. Salieva is determined to build a new life with an uncompromising resolve against anyone who would obstruct the poor, a stance unusual for a woman.

The film is dedicated to the beauty and majesty of its homeland, the traditions of the Kyrgyz people, and the everyday life and work of its people. The story is narrated by an old man who has lived a long life. As if looking back with a thoughtful gaze, he remembers all the cherished moments and beauty he will soon have to leave behind. Yet despite the looming tragedy, there is no sense of pessimism — every memory, every frame shines with a hopeful warmth, like life itself. The old shepherd’s character and spirit, reflected in his eyes, will live on in his grandchildren, preserving both the beauty of the land and the deep love he felt for it.

Bakai is an old shepherd who lives in the country while his children have long grown accustomed to life in the city. When his youngest son pays him a visit, Bakai wants him to stay and help with the rigors of rural living.