This beautifully photographed Russian drama set in St. Petersburg centers on Alexander Larin, a Russian native who has spent the last six years living in the US. He went there to escape a relationship before it developed into an unhealthy love triangle between himself, his fiancee Anna, and her lovely daughter Masha. Now a successful businessman, Alexander has returned to bring Masha back with him. Unfortunately, she is already engaged to Mitia, a photographer. Anna, also does not approve of Macha going with Alexander.

The drama of a former noblewoman who became the wife of an NKVD officer in the 1930s, and the almost anecdotal story of how a spirited stallion was prepared for Marshal Budyonny's parade and, in the end, a reliable mare was "slipped in" instead. The realities of life at the top of the State Security Service are shown, their ordinary and "sweet" life with its joys, intrigues, betrayals, and tragedies. Russia is like a whirlpool that sucks in and destroys.