House Under the Starry Skies

A provocative outsider sent to destabilize the Bashkirtsev household. He performs a shocking magic trick, sawing Konstantin’s wife in half, and then declares he cannot reassemble her, signaling a malevolent, spirit-like influence. His drunken, aggressive behavior escalates violence and attracts heavy police attention to the family. He embodies the invasive force that corrupts domestic life.

Nika’s husband, a pragmatic protector who becomes a target of Valentin’s menace. He helps the family endure the siege, but ultimately dies when Komposterov kills him with a laser-like strike during the final confrontation. His presence embodies loyalty and tragic sacrifice under relentless pressure.

The younger daughter of Bashkirtsev who forms a romance with Timofey on Arbat Street. She stays to tie up affairs, then escapes with Timofey and Konstantin, later sharing the danger and flight that lead toward a new life abroad. Her resourcefulness keeps the story emotionally anchored amid chaos.

A flute player living in an empty hangar who constructs a hot-air balloon from stolen materials, symbolizing ingenuity amidst scarcity. He enters a romance with Nika and teams up with her to escape danger. He fights to survive the upheaval and helps drive the narrative toward a climactic showdown.

The respected Soviet academician and a deputy of the Supreme Soviet who is kidnapped and tortured by mysterious men. His death is a catalyst for the family’s collapse into chaos and their subsequent flight to the United States. He embodies the era’s precarious power structures and their personal toll.

A mentally disabled plumber who becomes an incidental casualty in the crossfire surrounding the Bashkirtsev household. His presence underscores the collateral damage of a life lived under siege and the unpredictable nature of violence in the story.

The elder daughter, whose role inside the family illustrates the balance of intellect and resilience amid upheaval. She navigates the turbulence around her family’s legacy and the changing political climate as events unfold.

Bashkirtsev’s wife, bearing witness to the family’s collapse and the violence that invades their home. Her presence represents the domestic sphere’s endurance under sudden danger and upheaval.