The officers are unaware of their impending doom, waiting for their fate to be decided by the Red Army officials.

[3] One of them – an unnamed poruchik (lieutenant) – is haunted by the memories of a dramatic and brief love affair which occurred in 1907.

In order of appearance in main titles: The musical score for Sunstroke was composed by Eduard Artemyev, who has collaborated with Mikhalkov on numerous movies (At Home Among Strangers, An Unfinished Piece for a Player Piano, Burnt by the Sun, The Barber of Siberia, etc.).

A leading tune accompanying the lieutenant's romantic feelings – toward his bride and the beautiful stranger – is a popular mezzo-soprano aria from Camille Saint-Saëns's opera Samson and Delilah called "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" ("My heart opens itself to your voice"), sung by Delilah as she attempts to seduce Samson into revealing the secret of his strength.

Also included in the soundtrack is the version of Nikolai Devitte's Russian Gypsy song "Ne Dlya Menya" (Not for me), performed by Mikhalkov himself, backed by the Kuban Cossack Choir.