Set in a small Ukrainian village during the outbreak of war with Germany in 1941 Private Chonkin, not overly endowed with intelligence, is left to guard a downed military aircraft. The authorities appear to have forgotten about him so this leaves him free to work his chams on the village postmistress, Njura, untill the local militia are tipped off.
From a simple misunderstanding, a kind, funny story has grown about charming village people, about ridiculous situations in which they periodically find themselves.
The mid-60s, the time of the "thaw" after the terrible Stalin years. There was a "golden youth" - dudes in trousers with a pipe, jazz "on the ribs", the first farcers. Two blockheads cheerfully while away, trying the delights of adulthood - dancing, wine, girls. But in the end, everyone chooses his life path.
