I Am Twenty

A recently discharged soldier in his early twenties who yearns for meaning in a society that feels both familiar and estranged. He is haunted by his father’s death in the Great Patriotic War and searches for a woman who fits his high expectations, while trying to define his place among friends who drift in different directions.

A cheerful optimist and women’s man who enjoys life but faces a moral trial when his boss invites him to become an informant. He refuses the offer, reflecting a tension between personal freedom and societal pressure, and later laments, expressing the cynicism of youth about integrity.

Married with a child, Slava still spends most of his free time with friends, often neglecting his family responsibilities. His escapades with the company of peers highlight the pull between loyalty to family and the thrill of youth.

Daughter of wealthy parents, Anya represents a segment of the urban elite that Sergei encounters. Their May Day meeting and shared evening at the poetry event place her at the intersection of privilege, culture, and the allure of the wider world.

Sergey's father, deceased at 21 after serving in the war. In a surreal dreamlike sequence he tries to offer guidance, but ultimately admits he cannot steer his son, underscoring the generational distance and the impossibility of old certainties guiding new realities.

A renowned Soviet poet who reads his work at the poetry evening, embodying the era's literary voice and the public consciousness of youth.

A celebrated poet who shares his verses with the audience, contributing to the fusion of art and lived experience in the young generation's mind.

One of the era’s poets appearing as herself, her presence underscores the intertwining of literature and everyday life in 1960s Soviet culture.

Poet who reads at the event, linking the film’s young protagonists to a broader literary tradition and public letter about existence and hope.

Appearing as himself, Svetlov's presence anchors the narrative in a living memory of wartime sentiments and poetic lineage.

Poet appearing as herself, whose words color the evening with intimate reflections on love and society.

Self-portrayed poet whose songs and verses contribute to the collective sense of youth, longing, and the search for meaning.