The story begins in 1935, when two families move into a communal apartment on the outskirts of Moscow: the Davydovs, with their three children, and newlyweds Dmitry and Lida Kashirin.

As the children grow up, they and the surrounding adults grapple with questions about identity, purpose, and morality, navigating conflicts, reconciliations, and life’s complexities.

Galya’s ambitions create friction, but she perseveres, even seeking guidance from a former actress to prepare for theater school.

Tragedy strikes as Dmitry Kashirin and Pavel Davydov do not survive the war, and Konstantin returns disabled.

Song composer of Yuri Biryukov to words of Alexey Fatyanov Silence of Rogozhskaya Force (Russian: Тишина за Рогожской заставою) takes Nikolai Rybnikov.