Office Romance

In Moscow in 1976, Anatoly Yefremovich Novoseltsev works at a statistical bureau and is a kind, clumsy father. He dreams of a promotion and a pay raise, but he is too timid to bring up the subject. His unspoken ambition sets the stage for the power dynamics and choices that follow.

Samokhvalov nominates Anatoly as head of the light industry department, hoping to boost his career. Kalugina, the industrious bureau head, rejects the nomination, leaving Anatoly embarrassed and disappointed. The moment reveals the office politics shaping their relationship.

At a party in Samokhvalov's apartment, Anatoly tries to flirt with Kalugina and show off his wits. His flirting is awkward and amplified by alcohol, culminating in an insult where he calls her dry and heartless. Kalugina leaves the moment repelled and unsettled by his behavior.

The following morning, Anatoly seeks Kalugina to apologize, hoping to mend fences. Her tears reveal she knows how others see her and that her armor hides loneliness. They begin a candid, heartfelt exchange that softens their past barriers.

Their relationship deepens as they share work and humor, slowly letting down defenses. Kalugina starts taking more care with her appearance, surprising colleagues who notice the change. The two become fond of each other and a new dynamic takes shape at the office.

Olga Ryzhova, married and living in the suburbs, rekindles romantic feelings for Samokhvalov after his return from abroad. She begins writing him love letters, which Vera, the Frump's secretary, reluctantly passes along. The letters fan the office gossip and push the characters toward a confrontation.

Samokhvalov entrusts Shura, the union activist, with sorting out the affair by confiscating the letters. Kalugina reprimands Samokhvalov for his tactlessness and insists the matter remain private between him and Ryzhova. The leak becomes a catalyst for further office turmoil.

Ryzhova, humiliated by the gossip, asks for the letters back and returns to her work and daily routine. The emotional blow reshapes her stance toward the men involved and highlights the cost of workplace rumors. Her resilience sets a new tone for the trio's relationships.

Novoseltsev angrily confronts Samokhvalov and Shura about their spreading gossip and the damage it has caused. The confrontation makes the tension in the bureau unmistakable. He also considers how his earlier motives might be viewed in light of the other events.

Samokhvalov reveals to Kalugina that Novoseltsev had an ulterior motive to woo her for a promotion, shocking her and making her fear that he would desert her. This disclosure unsettles Kalugina and reframes her view of his character. The revelation triggers a tense turning point in their relationship.

Kalugina promotes Novoseltsev to head of the light industry department and announces she intends to end their relationship. She sarcastically praises the path to promotion as he envisioned it, exposing the toxicity of his earlier motives. Novoseltsev is stunned by the double-edged decision.

Novoseltsev concedes that his initial pursuit was self-serving, but admits that he has come to respect her as a leader. Kalugina counters, insisting that love cannot be forced and that true partnership must be earned. The clash underscores a shift from manipulation to genuine regard.

Novoseltsev rejects the promotion and tenders his resignation, but Kalugina refuses to accept it and resists letting him go. The argument erupts into a furious spat that spills into the lobby of the building. In the heat, they chase each other to the back seat of her service car, where their tension gives way to a tender embrace.

A closing subtitle reveals that in nine months there will be three boys in Novoseltsev's family, signaling a future for the couple. The line hints at a chaotic but joyful domestic life born from their evolving romance.