Firebird

Sergey is a young private in the Soviet Air Force who has only a few weeks left on his assignment. The base operates under tight discipline, and he and his friends bristle under the precision of the command. As the end of his service approaches, the stage is set for personal freedoms and risky desires.

Sergey crosses paths with Luisa, the base commander's secretary, and a hesitant romance begins to blossom. He also pursues a photography hobby that is barely tolerated by his superiors, adding a quiet counterpoint to the regimented life. The attraction between Sergey and Luisa grows amid a climate of surveillance.

Roman arrives as a new fighter pilot and Sergey is assigned to assist him. An undeniable chemistry forms between the two men, creating a romance that carries the risk of punishment under the regime. The relationship develops despite the threat of surveillance and imprisonment.

The lovers keep their relationship secret, aware that homosexual romance is punishable. They navigate coded glances and risky sightings while continuing their duties. The constant risk adds a tense undercurrent to their days at the base.

When his military service ends, Roman urges Sergey to follow his dream and study acting in Moscow rather than returning to the family farm. The discussion marks a pivotal turn toward personal freedom and a renunciation of the old guard. Sergey prepares to depart with new ambitions.

A year after leaving the service, Sergey has begun a new life in the theater. He receives an invitation to Roman and Luisa's wedding and travels to attend. The occasion stirs lingering feelings and a sense of unresolved longing for Roman.

Sergey attends Roman and Luisa's wedding and tries to hide his disappointment at Roman's choice to be with Luisa. The wedding cements a public facade that hides the private bond between Roman and Sergey. Sergey leaves with mixed emotions about the life he could have had.

Roman and Luisa have a child, yet their marriage remains a sham. Roman's love for Sergey continues to burn beneath the surface as he juggles family life and a forbidden affair. The couple's dynamic becomes a carefully curated lie.

Roman leaves his wife and son to study in Moscow and secretly rents an apartment with Sergey. The two men live together, travel, and share private moments that defy the official stance of the era. The secret arrangement intensifies the sense of peril.

Luisa and their son come to Moscow for Christmas, and the truth between Roman and Sergey is suddenly revealed. Luisa is enraged by both men for deceiving her, and the revelation shatters their carefully constructed lives. The lovers part ways as the holiday ends.

Roman is assigned to participate in the Soviet–Afghan War and is killed in action. His death marks a final separation and a turning point for Sergey. The loss deepens Sergey's resolve to return to acting and memory of Roman.

After Roman's death, Sergey visits Luisa, who remains angry about the past and the deception. He returns to his life as an actor in Moscow, seeking solace in art.

Sergey is last seen watching a production of Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird, a ballet that Roman had introduced him to. The moment signifies memory, art, and the continuation of Sergey's life in Moscow.