The film takes place during one day of operation of a railway line, the capacity of which is lower than necessary. A disaster occurs: a passenger train crashes into a tank train, the driver's assistant is killed, and traffic on the section is delayed. The film explores the patterns that led to the accident.
Rita is a naive 18-year-old from the sticks who has come to Moscow to meet up with the man who impregnated her a few months earlier. Unfortunately, his name and address was written on a piece of paper in her luggage, which was promptly stolen upon her arrival in Moscow. Thus, she is a bit at loose ends, and going back home is clearly not an option.
An actress is recording a screen-test for Federico Fellini who, as she's heard, is looking for a Russian actress for his new film. For an hour she's reflecting on the nature of art, the fate of artists, the destiny of Russian people, history of her country and its present day.
