The Youth of Maxim

On New Year’s Eve of 1910, St. Petersburg’s aristocracy celebrates the dawning decade while the revolutionary underground moves in the shadows. The aging activist Polivanov, known as Sedoy, shuttles between clandestine locations, encountering loyalty, cowardice, and betrayal. He remains under surveillance but manages to avoid capture as he continues his work.

Three comrades from the Narva District—Maxim, Dema, and Andrei—rescue underground activist Natasha from a police informant. On the same day, Andrei dies from injuries sustained in a faulty factory machine. The event deepens the group’s strain and pushes Maxim and Natasha toward more decisive action.

Another young factory worker dies, and his funeral becomes an impromptu demonstration. Maxim and Natasha seize the moment to call for a strike, attempting to mobilize the grieving workers. The police swiftly suppress the demonstration, revealing the fragile balance between underground organizing and open protest.

During the chaos, Dema shoots and kills a police officer while defending Maxim. The killing triggers a harsher crackdown and leads to the arrest of Maxim, Natasha, and Dema. Their actions intensify police scrutiny and elevate the danger for everyone involved.

Maxim is imprisoned and shares a cell with Sedoy, the elder revolutionary continuing the fight from within. They reflect on the costs of rebellion and the enduring resolve of the movement as they await an uncertain fate. The conversation deepens their commitment to the cause.

One night, prisoners hear Dema being led to his execution and bid their farewells. They respond by singing Warszawianka, the revolutionary anthem that embodies their defiance. The scene underscores the personal sacrifices fueling the struggle.

Maxim is released from prison but forbidden from living in most European provinces of the Russian Empire. This exile constraint, noted in some versions of the film, drives him to continue underground work despite official restrictions. He resumes clandestine organizing while staying under the radar.

Maxim organizes a secret workers’ conference in a nearby forest, attempting to unite the movement and coordinate action. Sedoy reads an address from Vladimir Lenin to the attendees, rallying them to continued resistance. The gathering is interrupted by police, and everyone is arrested.

As police close in, Maxim narrowly escapes capture with the help of a train crew, hiding in a coal tender. He slips away with Natasha and returns to the underground, where they recommit themselves to the cause. The escape marks a shift toward sustained clandestine activity.

Together with Natasha, Maxim writes and distributes a proclamation calling for continued resistance. The document circulates within the underground and among sympathetic workers, fueling morale and defiance. It signals a renewed push to mobilize the proletariat.

To operate more effectively, Maxim adopts the alias Pavel Agafonovich Malakhanov. The new identity helps him maneuver through the movement’s networks and avoid exposing his true name.

Tasked by the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, Maxim heads to Nizhny Novgorod to support the Sormovo workers. He joins a broader plan to strengthen worker organization and challenge the authorities. The mission expands the revolutionary network across key industrial centers.