A classic Stalin-era manager, Abrikosov embodies a life wholly devoted to work, where his role and responsibilities have always provided his sense of purpose.

Known for his demanding and unyielding leadership, he still operates with the same vigor that drove him as a young man, when he was promoted to director and awarded his first medal at age 20.

His wife (played by Iya Savvina) respects him but shares little common ground, and even his daughter from a previous marriage has unresolved family issues of her own.

Gradually, shared experiences bring Abrikosov closer to his family, but his sense of identity remains deeply unsettled.

Film critic Neya Zorkaya suggests this final moment hints at Abrikosov’s realization that he may have spent his life on pursuits he now finds empty and unfulfilling.