Love and Pigeons

Vasily Kuzyakin works as a forestry worker and devotes money to his beloved pigeons. Nadezhda, his wife, regards this as frivolous and resents the expense. They live in the countryside with their three children, and the household is colored by a quiet pride in the birds and a growing tension over money.

An elderly couple next door, baba Shura and uncle Mitya, brings ongoing friction into the scene. Uncle Mitya drinks in secret while his wife tries to keep him in line, fueling a steady undercurrent of conflict. The neighbors' quarrels mirror the Kuzyakins' own strains.

Vasily suffers an industrial injury and leaves home to seek treatment at a seaside resort. The separation from his family begins a shift in his life and creates new emotional space. The resort becomes the setting where new people and ideas enter his orbit.

At the resort, Vasily meets Raisa Zakharovna, a city employee with captivating stories about psychics and astral phenomena. Their encounter blossoms into a holiday romance that pulls him away from his family. The affair marks a turning point in his loyalties and priorities.

Vasily leaves the Kuzyakin household by sending a letter to inform Nadezhda and the children that he will not return. The family reacts with shock and anger, especially Nadezhda, who confronts the news with a mix of fury and hurt. The act of departure creates a rupture that defines the next chapter of their lives.

Raisa comes to the Kuzyakin home seeking a peaceful settlement, but Nadezhda realizes who she is and their confrontation escalates. Nadezhda attacks Raisa in a burst of emotion, and Raisa leaves with nothing but a sense of humiliation. The visit ends without resolution and widens the rift in the family.

Nadezhda sinks into a deep depression as the family fractures. Lyonka, furious and hurt, threatens to kill his father as soon as he sees him, illustrating the depth of anger and estrangement. The household bears the weight of the divorce era drama.

Vasily realizes the relationship cannot bridge their social gap, and he misses his family too much to stay. He ends the affair and returns to a life that seems more complicated but more real, stepping away from Raisa.

On the third day, Nadezhda lies in bed while the children, Uncle Mitya, and Baba Shura try to comfort her. Lyudka prepares to leave for the city, triggering fresh quarrels and an attempt at reconciliation within the family. The mood remains tense but with hints of tentative repair.

Vasily and Nadezhda begin a two-month secret reunion at a riverside hideout, pursuing a fragile chance to rebuild their relationship away from the village. The period is marked by limited contact with the outside world and a focus on healing trust. The temporary separation continues to reshape the family dynamics.

Vasily discovers that Nadezhda is pregnant and decides to return to the family. The couple resumes life together, bringing new tensions and hopes into the household. The return signals a fragile, renewed bond despite unfinished business.

Lenka returns from college, and the family learns he is about to be drafted into the army. The moment brings a mix of pride and worry as they prepare for a difficult goodbye. Lenka's departure is marked by the image of him releasing pigeons into the sky.

Lenka is sent off to the army, and the family watches as he launches his pigeons into the sky. The pigeon flight serves as a poignant symbol of moving on and the ongoing cycle of life on the farm. The film closes on a note of quiet resilience despite the upheaval.