Men and Beasts

Alexei Pavlov, a Red Army commander, is captured by enemy forces near Mga in January 1942. He becomes a prisoner of war and endures the harsh realities of confinement. The capture marks the beginning of a long, separating chapter from his homeland.

Over the next 17 years, he wanders through foreign lands, surviving displacement and hardship. The memories of home fade and return in fragmented flashes as he clings to the hope of reunion. His long exile tests his resilience and will to fight for a future in his homeland.

Resolved to return, Alexei travels back toward the Soviet Union with the aim of reaching his brother in Sevastopol. The journey becomes a bridge from years abroad to a family reconnection. It signals the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

On the road, he meets Anna Andreyevna, a doctor he once saved during the Siege of Leningrad, who is traveling south with her daughter Tanya. She invites him to join their small group, offering companionship and safety. As they travel, Alexei shares the life story that defined his wartime years.

During a stop by a reservoir for dinner, Alexei recalls his time in Argentina where illness cost him his job as a laborer. Vasily Klyachko and Savvateev, friends from his camp, intervened on his behalf, though their efforts clash with Maria Nikolaevna, the estate mistress. The memory highlights how small acts of kindness and cruelty have shaped his fate.

He recounts his experiences in Majdanek, Dachau, and Buchenwald, detailing escape attempts and his eventual liberation by American forces. The stories reveal the brutality he endured and the endurance that carried him through. They form a core part of his understanding of humanity.

After the war, Alexei works in Sudan, Canada, and Argentina, continuing to travel for work and survival. These postings broaden his view of the world but intensify his longing for home. The wanderings echo his earlier years as a prisoner and survivor.

Arriving in Hamburg, he recalls his time driving for a wealthy German family and clashing with their fascist leanings. The old tensions resurface as he quits after altercations with the sons. The episodes illustrate the persistence of conflict with the remnants of the old order.

During a moment of despair, he is betrayed by former campmates and attempts suicide, but is saved by Frau Wilde, a kind German woman. Her mercy rekindles his faith in humanity and provides a lifeline to continue seeking a better future. He credits her with restoring his sense of trust in people.

Alexei arrives in Zaporizhzhia, visits Anna's relatives, and observes the bustling life around a new steel plant. The city's industry and energy give him a sense of belonging and progress. A celebratory launch of the machinery marks a hopeful milestone in his journey.

Petr, Alexei's brother, has hidden his existence for years under pressure from his wife Valentina, who burned Alexei's letters and claimed he was dead. Tanya intervenes and persuades Petr’s family to reunite with Alexei. The family finally moves toward reconciliation after years of secrecy.

The brothers finally meet, but the years apart have left them very different—shaped by divergent paths of captivity, exile, and travel. Their reunion highlights both the deep bond of family and the profound changes brought by experience. The moment underscores the costs and value of reunion after a long separation.