A capable leader, he quickly rises through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant general and commanding an army.

Compared with other Soviet commanders, including Georgy Zhukov, Gorbatov is distinguished by understanding the realities of the modern battlefield, the independence of courts and decisions and the ability to persuade his superiors.

As the war progresses, Gorbatov faces not only the German invaders but also the omnipotence of political officers and the ignorance of some commanders.

Through his story, the film portrays the Red Army during the early months of the Great Patriotic War, emphasizing its generally low combat readiness and the constraints on command imposed by the directives of the Stavka and Comrade Stalin.

The narrative also alludes to the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, including the imprisonment of Gorbatov and many of his friends—heroes of the Russian Civil War.