Screen version of the novel «Russians in Early XVII» by V. Shklovsky. The year of 1611. Polish legionaries of hetman Khodkevich approach Moscow. In Nizhny Novgorod Kuzma Minin, a merchant, gathers citizens-in-arms and coupled with duke Dmitry Pozharsky heads back the enemy. The citizens-in-arms defeat the hand-picked troops of Poland.