This movie is based on a novel by Boris Vasiliev and describes life in a small Russian provincial town in 1940 - one year before Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The main characters of the film are ordinary Soviet high school students. They study in the Soviet school, try to be correct and ideological Komsomol activists. But not always the “correctness” suggested by the teachers coincides with the inner convictions of young souls - it is difficult for them to come to terms with the fact that their relatives and loved ones are suddenly “enemies of the people”.
Maxim and Valentina work in the Department for the Distribution of Souls — 24 hours before the death of a person, they must determine where he will go — to hell or heaven. And since both are guaranteed paradise under an employment contract, Maxim is trying to earn extra money and sell a place in paradise to oligarchs, and Valentina dreams of returning her husband from hell.
On New Year Eve a girl with a scythe is going through winter Moscow. Who is she looking for?..
