In the 1880s, the Tuvan arats rebelled against the enslaving noyons. The uprising was brutally suppressed. With ethnographic accuracy, the film recreates the patriarchal life of the Tuvans, their morals and customs.

During the final months of the World War II, a group of special forces sailors, under the command of Lieutenant Balandin, receives a secret order of special importance to destroy enemy tankers, seaplanes and gun installations to ensure the free landing of their troops.