Year: 1981
Runtime: 90 mins
Language: Russian
Director: Ilya Frez
Two high‑school students meet in class and quickly fall deeply in love, but the lingering history between the boy’s father and the girl’s mother creates an uneasy atmosphere. The boy’s jealous mother tries to drive them apart, while their teacher, herself tangled in a troubled romance, silently supports the young couple.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Could One Imagine? yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Could One Imagine? (1981), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
High school student Katya Shevchenko Tatyana Aksyuta moves to a new district and quickly befriends classmate Roman Lavochkin Nikita Mikhajlovsky at their school. What starts as a simple friendship blossoms into a sincere and enduring romance, a connection that seems to catch the adults around them off guard. Roman’s father, Konstantin [Albert Filozov], once carried a quiet affection for Katya’s mother Lyudmila [Irina Miroshnichenko], who chose to reject him, a history that shadows the present relationship. Roman’s mother Vera [Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina], consumed by jealousy toward Katya’s family, outwardly resents Katya and her daughter, and she is determined to keep the teenagers apart by force.
To drive a wedge between the young lovers, Vera engineers a calculated ruse: she transfers Roman to a different school and forbids any meeting or correspondence. Yet the bond between Katya and Roman resists distance; their feelings persist even as walls of misunderstanding rise around them. Vera escalates her plan by falsehoods, persuading Roman to travel to Leningrad to “care for” a supposedly ill grandmother. That grandmother, played by Tatyana Pelttser, has no real illness—she carries out the deception to sever the lovers’ ties.
Within this tense atmosphere, Katya remains determined to uncover the truth. She receives quiet support from their circle, notably from their teacher Tatyana Nikolaevna [Yelena Solovey], who navigates her own personal life while standing up for the students. It falls to Tatyana Nikolaevna to reveal Vera’s deception to Lyudmila and her husband, and Katya makes a bold decision: she will travel to Leningrad to unearth the truth for herself.
Back in Moscow, Roman is left perplexed by Katya’s silence; every letter she writes seems to vanish, intercepted by his watching grandmother. He reaches out to Tatyana Nikolaevna, hoping for clarity, only to be misidentified as Mihail [Leonid Filatov], the teacher’s former lover. The miscommunication becomes a painful moment, and the warning to “never call again” echoes through Roman’s confusion. Yet the truth gradually surfaces from a tense phone conversation between the grandmother and Vera, revealing the heart of the rift: a calculated plot to keep Katya and Roman apart.
Shocked by the betrayal of those closest to him, Roman retreats to his room. Katya, sensing the danger and motivated by love, travels to Leningrad to confront what is really happening. The two lovers finally collide with the truth and their defiant hope persists. As Roman peers out his window, Katya stands nearby in the city, and the obstacles looming over their relationship threaten one last time. In a climactic moment, Roman steps onto the windowsill, loses his balance, and falls from the frame—only to be cushioned by a snowdrift. Katya rushes to his side, pulling him to his feet, and the two collapse back into the snow together, their fate sealed by the quiet, unspoken promise of renewed togetherness. The scene is watched by two passing children, a quiet testament to the enduring innocence of youth amid the complexities of adult schemes.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:58
Don't stop at just watching — explore Could One Imagine? in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Could One Imagine? is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Could One Imagine? with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Could One Imagine? that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Could One Imagine? (1981) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Could One Imagine? (1981) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Could One Imagine? (1981) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Could One Imagine? – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Romeo and Juliet (1968) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Class (1983) Ending Explained & Film Insights
What About Love (2024) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Can’t Be Heaven (2000) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Possible Loves (2001) Film Overview & Timeline
Let the Love Begin (2005) Movie Recap & Themes
Confession of Love (1985) Detailed Story Recap
First Romance (1000) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The High schoolers (1986) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Romeo and Juliet (1978) Complete Plot Breakdown
First Love (1970) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Baby Love (1995) Film Overview & Timeline
How Romeo and Juliet Loved Each Other (1966) Movie Recap & Themes
Romeo and Juliet (1954) Full Movie Breakdown
High School Serenade (2023) Complete Plot Breakdown