My Friend Ivan Lapshin

The film is presented through the eyes of a narrator who is a 9-year-old boy, recounting events that took place in the 1930s many years ago. He guides us into the life of Ivan Lapshin and his circle in Unchansk. The frame establishes the memory-driven and reflective tone of the story.

The local CID is deeply involved in tracking down Solovyov's gang, whose brutal murders terrorize the city. Lapshin leads the pursuit with a resolute, uncompromising approach. The pursuit sets the tone for his character and the film's tension.

Lapshin embodies a hard-nosed ethic: clean up the land and plant a garden, and there will still be time to walk in the garden. He does not compromise in crime-fighting and expects the same from his team. This motto reflects the era's revolutionary vigor and his personal discipline.

Most of Lapshin's life unfolds in a shared communal apartment, where four adults and a child jockey for space. He rents a corner from Patrikeevna and navigates the tight quarters and the small battles over daily life. The film uses this setting to show both camaraderie and strain.

Parallel to the police work, the film delves into the provincial theatre's life, showing classics on stage alongside attempts to forge new subjects in art. The characters interact with the UGRO and the theater world, blurring lines between crime, art, and politics. The setting highlights cultural tension in post-NEP times.

Nina Ruslanova, a local theatre actress, captivates Lapshin, but she secretly loves Khanin. Khanin, a visiting journalist, is an old acquaintance who carries a different kind of attraction for her. The trio becomes central to the film's emotional landscape as political duty competes with personal longing.

Okoshkin, the UGRO employee, sees marriage and moving out as a way to escape communal life. He almost achieves it but ends up back in the shared apartment. His arc mirrors the small-scale routines of the city’s life.

Khanin, recently widowed, moves into the communal apartment and sinks into despair. He attempts to shoot himself with Lapshin's pistol, a pivotal moment that binds their fates and tests Lapshin's friendship. Lapshin's decision to stay by his side anchors their relationship in crisis.

Despite the darkness, Lapshin promises to take Khanin with him on future operations to chase criminals. This pledge suggests a sense of mentorship and loyalty between them. The moment deepens Khanin's will to endure and participate in police work.

During a raid on barracks, Khanin notices someone slipping away toward the yards. He identifies Solovyov as the suspect and signals trouble, shifting the operation's dynamic. The moment blends investigative instinct with personal risk.

When Khanin tries to detain Solovyov, Solovyov stabs him in the stomach, a traumatic wound that tests the constable’s resolve. The operation proceeds as police surround Solovyov, and the outcome remains uncertain. This event marks the film’s emotional core, forcing choices under pressure.

Solovyov, despite signaling surrender, is ultimately eliminated by Lapshin, who carries out the sentence. The act closes the gang threat and reinforces the character’s hard-edged justice. The confrontation leaves the investigators scarred but resolute.

After healing from his wound, Khanin offers to take Lapshin to the Far East and Siberia to show him places he has never seen. Lapshin declines, choosing to stay in Unchansk and continue his life and duties there. The moment marks a pivot in their personal relationship and Lapshin’s path.

The actress seems ready to leave with Khanin but finally remains in Unchansk. Lapshin chooses to keep distance from her, signaling a shift in his emotional investments after the case. The communal life continues to press on around them.