Valentina

In 1970, Valentina, an 18-year-old waitress in a small Siberian village, secretly harbors feelings for local investigator Shamanov. She works the cafe and quietly dreams about him, letting the admiration stay unspoken. The crush lingers as Shamanov remains largely unaware of her affections.

Shamanov, the village investigator, goes about his duties with a measured calm and remains mostly oblivious to Valentina's hidden feelings. He interacts with residents as part of his routine, unaware of the budding tension around him. The dynamic between them stays unspoken for now.

Valentina finally confesses her feelings to Shamanov, and the admission stirs something in him. The moment hints at a potential connection, yet his reaction remains guarded and restrained. The confession plants the seed for what might follow between them.

Pavel, the son of a village cafeteria worker, becomes enraged upon learning of Valentina's interest in Shamanov. He confronts Shamanov with threats, escalating tension and creating a volatile triangle in the small community. The confrontation foreshadows further conflict.

Shamanov calmly hands Pavel his service pistol and dares him to act, turning a charged moment into a test of nerve. Pavel fires but misses, and the act leaves him humiliated by the investigator's composure. The exchange deepens the rift between the rivals.

Planning to meet Valentina that evening, Shamanov entrusts a note for her to Zinaida, the village pharmacist who secretly loves him. Zinaida's position gives her power over information, and she becomes a gatekeeper to the planned message. The plan hinges on Zinaida's willingness to act or restrain Valentina.

Zinaida withholds the note from Valentina and tries to divert her attention toward the accountant Mechetkine, hoping to steer Valentina away from Shamanov or complicate the situation. Valentina remains unaware of the intended message and the ruse unfolds in the background. The withheld note sets the stage for later misunderstandings.

Mechetkine, encouraged by Valentina's father who sees him as a suitable match, begins pursuing her with awkward persistence. Valentina resists, signaling that her heart is not aligned with his ambitions. The tension between old expectations and her own feelings grows.

Valentina agrees to go to a dance with Pavel, but only out of pity rather than genuine interest. The arrangement underscores the lack of genuine choice she feels amid competing suitors. The dance becomes a tense battleground for the unwinding romance.

Shamanov returns to the teahouse to meet Valentina but learns from Zinaida that she has gone with Pavel. He searches for her in vain, his concern mounting as night falls. The pursuit underscores the fragility of the relationships at stake.

Valentina is found to have suffered abuse at Pavel's hands, leaving her visibly shaken. Shamanov, unaware of the full details, tries to comfort her as she breaks down in tears. The night reveals the harsh consequences of the jealous confrontation.

Confronted by her father, Valentina protects both Pavel and Shamanov by claiming she spent the evening with Mechetkine. The lie serves to shield others from blame, but it also deepens the sense of entanglement and moral ambiguity in the trio. The confession leaves a fragile peace in its wake.

The next morning Valentina returns to work bearing visible bruises, silently enduring the consequences of the previous night’s events. The incident casts a shadow over her daily routine and the fragile relationships in the village. The morning scene marks a turning point in how she navigates love and danger.