The Cold Summer of 1953

Following Beria's 1953 amnesty, hundreds of criminals are released. They quickly form gangs and commit robberies, murders, and rapes nationwide. The film depicts a country grappling with the flood of violence and lawlessness that follows.

At dusk, a gang of six bandits led by Baron infiltrates a village and takes Ivan Zotov hostage in his own home. They ransack the dwelling and arm themselves, imposing their will on the frightened villagers. The raid marks the village's descent into fear as the bandits establish control.

To survive, Zotov pretends to assist the bandits and helps them stay hidden while they plan an ambush. He helps lure out the village policeman Mankov so the bandits can strike. Their aim is to kill Mankov and seize his submachine gun for greater power.

The gunfight erupts and Mankov falls. The bandits force the villagers into a barn, locking the door and isolating everyone except Lydia, who is forced to cook for them, and Luzga and Kopalych, who are made to dig Mankov's grave. Fadeich is among those the bandits intend to kill, and Zotov is kept close as one of their own.

Lydia locks her daughter Shura in another barn to keep her safe from the raiders. A lustful bandit struggles to break the lock and vents his frustration on Lydia. Tension rises as the villagers' safety hangs in the balance.

Shura is chased into the woods by the bandit and is assaulted. Luzga silently approaches and stabs the attacker, killing him. The danger around the barn begins to recede, but the night is far from over.

Luzga comforts Shura and then leaves to scout for bandits, arming himself with the bandit's pistol. He spots Mikhalych arguing with Kopalych about Beria's downfall; Mikhalych notices Luzga and fires, wounding him. Luzga feigns death and then shoots Mikhalych, killing him.

Luzga reconvenes with Kopalych and together they pick off another lone bandit. They press forward toward the village, guns ready for the final confrontation.

The three remaining bandits realize half their men are dead and split up searching for the rebels. Kopalych creates a dangerous distraction and takes cover, sacrificing himself as he is shot. Seizing the moment, Luzga guns down all three remaining bandits.

The surviving bandit, having played dead, shoots and kills Shura. Luzga pursues the killer across land and into waist-deep water, where a brutal struggle ends with the bandit being forced underwater. The village is left to reckon with the cost of the raid.

Two years after the raid, Luzga walks the streets of Moscow and seeks out Kopalych's relatives. He informs them of Kopalych's innocence and asks them to denounce him to spare themselves persecution under Stalin's regime. The encounter underscores the ongoing political danger in postwar life.