A film based on a short story by Yuri Koval, recounting a fantastic and whimsical journey through the Vologda region aboard a small boat built by the protagonist.
The story consists of two parallel plotlines. The first follows the adventures of the protagonist, whose absurd journey unexpectedly transforms into a genuine mystical experience amidst rivers, marshes, and villages. The second is a student-produced play adapted from Koval’s book; it reveals the events leading up to the journey—how the protagonist sought to escape Moscow and leave everyone behind, including his friends, to immerse himself in the heart of nature, only to return in a mystical way to the simple questions of friendship and love, which are often more enigmatic than the most bizarre forest monsters.
