Plot synopsis

The film is a cinema adaptation of Anastasia Verbitskaya's novel, "The Keys to Happiness", a bestseller of the time, which openly addresses the themes of creative freedom and sexual freedom for women.
Beautiful and talented dancer Mania (Maria) Eltsova pines for the "knight of her heart", Yann. Yann explains to Mania the foundations of personal freedom and free love. Yann saves drowning children and dies. Mania mourns his death and keeps his memory. Later, Mania will love two more men: the millionaire Baron Steinbach and the penniless nobleman Nelidov. Sonia Gorlenko, a friend of Mania, is also in love with the baron, of whom Nelidov is jealous. The theme of the madness that afflicts Mania's mother and Baron Steinbach's uncle is present here.
Once, after reproaching her for her infidelity, Nelidov forcefully pushes Mania away and leaves. Mania tries to poison herself, but Sonia summons doctors in time. \ик // The second part of the film begins with this intertitle: "Her attempted poisoning and the pain she endured have deprived Mania of her strength. She needed two medicines: the climate of the South and change. Steinbach offers her a trip to Venice. Mania agrees." They walk around Venice. In Italy, Mania falls in love with the poet Garalda.
Later, Mania learns to dance in Paris and becomes a famous ballerina. The Baron proposes to Mania. She accepts but suggests that the Baron wait.

Selected in the following festivals or events :

- Protazanov Seminar, Moscow (Russia), 2007