Yana lives in northern town, works at the post office, collects stamps and waits for her father from the sea, but she doesn't even hope for his coming home. One day sailor Petr comes to the post office, and it changes Yana's life.

The story of Tanya, who is suddenly hit by a feeling that her existence is hopelessly devoid of meaning, is set in St. Petersburg. The city landscape provides the backdrop for Tanya's ups and downs as she takes drastic action, gets into scrapes and grows up as a result of the trials - both deliberate and accidental - that she faces.

The plot is reminiscent of a fairy tale, when the husband goes sailing, and as a farewell, the wife ties a thread to his button so that she knows where her beloved is.

Antonina, an artist from Saint Petersburg, follows her husband, a political prisoner, to the deep north province of Russia. As she starts teaching art in a local school, she finds herself opposed by a twelve-year-old boy, Misha, whose brother is a feared local gang leader.

The story of the young engineer Anton, constantly running around in search of work and the opportunity to prove himself. His life becomes like a carousel of monotonous fruitless attempts, but one day fate throws him an excellent proposal - a serious company, a big project, a life abroad. This proposal puts the hero in front of the choice between the future and the one most desired for him, the last, but the most expensive, that remains in his present life.