Original subtitles

[Music]

[Russian song]

Are you flying to Moscow?

No.

I could give you a ride. We're flying west,

via Blagoveshchensk, Irkutsk, and Novosibirsk.

The view from the cockpit is breathtaking.

I've been there. I tried entering Moscow University.

Did you make it?

I didn't.

I'm flying to Blagoveshchensk.

My name is Innokenty, by the way, meaning innocent in Latin.

- And yours? - Larisa?

This means seagull in Greek, a good name for a pilot's girlfriend.

Did you know that in ancient Greece to honor the nymph Larisa

they built a whole city on the Pineios river?

Of course, I dreamed as a little girl that a pilot would come to me

and ask me to follow him to the ends of the earth,

and then name a city or an island, all in my honor.

But alas, childhood is gone and so are myths.

And there's my steersman buying caviar for me again

because he thinks that I'm hungry.

Our flight is delayed.

Would you like me to introduce you?

Hello, Mikhalych, how was your night?

Quiet as usual.

Good morning. Want some coffee?

No, thank you.

And I wouldn't mind a cup of strong coffee.

My night was great.

Did 811 fly out of Blagoveshchensk?

No, 811 is delayed on Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Weather conditions. See the paper on the desk.

Why always talk about work?

Can't a man drink his coffee in peace?

So, shall I declare our trip officially finished?

[Chuckles] Wait, we're not home yet.

You can submit your complaints now.

It's so tight. My finger is stiff.

[Chuckles]

Some newlywed you are.

What does it feel like?

So tight, like that thing on the coffee lid.

We got some instant coffee at the base.

Instant coffee just instantly gone.

Phew! This is pure luck. The plane waited just for me.

The taxi driver said it's probably already in Blagoveshchensk.

I told him, no drive on.

So, when you fly Buryatia - Chegdomyn

you cross paths with military airplanes

flying out from the Zavitinsk airfield.

I'll catch the connecting flight to Moscow at night.

My wife and son are at home. Look.

I haven't seen them in a month.

You can relax now, comrade. You made it.

We waited for four hours. You should have hurried.

I told you the turbine wouldn't start.

At altitudes of 4200, 4500 meters at 9am,

2pm and 7pm at Moscow's local time.

Have you told them that 811 was delayed?

- Mikhalych? - He already left.

Hello. Welcome.

- Mother? - Yes.

The first time you flew, were you scared?

Please take your seat.

Of course, I was scared.

Let me help you.

Take your teddy bear. It won't be scary for you together.

Welcome.

Move along. I'm helping an old lady.

- Thank you, sir. - Anytime, ma'am.

Please, sir, take your seat. We're about to fly.

Larisa, our seats are here.

Let's sit here, too much noise over there.

Fine.

[Sighs]

Let me get that for you.

'Dear passengers, this is your captain speaking.'

- Comrades, fasten your seatbelts, please. - 'Please be seated.'

'And keep your seatbelts on.'

Fasten your seatbelt.

'As we will meet the headwind...'

- 'turbulence is possible.' - Fasten your seatbelt, please.

- 'Thank you for your cooperation.' - Fasten your seatbelt, dear.

I don't want to. I can't sleep like this.

Alright, then I'll make sure to hold you.

- But you'll hold me tight. - So very tight.

Arkhara region, 46653. Good afternoon.

I'm in your zone at 5400.

46653 proceed to 5400, Arkhara region.

46653. I stay at 5400.

[Engine roars]

46653, I confirm your place.

'Offset 225 kilometers within an Azimuth at 42 degrees.'

Fly to 5400. Report crossing air route Khabarovsk - Moscow.

46653. Turbulence at 5400. Allow descent at 5100.

46653, your distance is 162 kilometers

within an Azimuth at 37 degrees.

Descent to 5100.

[Gasps]

[Another plane whooshing]

Calm down. Calm down, comrades. - What was that?

Everything is okay.

[Loud crash]

[Screaming]

Larisa, hold on tight. Hold on.

Larisa!

Larisa!

Hold on. Larisa!

Larisa! Hold on.

Larisa!

No!

Hold on.

Oh no!

Oh my God!

Larisa!

[Screaming]

Larisa!

Larisa, hold on, hold on to me.

No! No, Larisa! No!

[Dramatic music]

[Screams]

[Music swells]

[Music fades]

'Flight 12133 from Moscow has landed.'

'Flight 12133 from Moscow has landed.'

Hey, Larisa!

Vladimir, what a surprise! I thought you have forgotten me.

Never. All this year, I thought only of you.

[Upbeat music]

- [Larisa] Is this your car? - [Vladimir] Yes, it's mine.

[Larisa] Did you deal in smuggling while I was gone?

[Vladimir chuckles] You guessed it. Of course not. It's my mother's gift.

[Larisa] I see.

[Whistle blows]

So, how's Moscow?

It doesn't matter.

Don't ask me.

Well, I'm glad you're back.

[Russian song]

[Handbrake pulled]

[Engine stops]

[Chuckles]

I don't want to go home.

Let's go to our place.

[Pigeons cooing]

[Vladimir] Watch your head.

[Pigeon cooing and fluttering]

So, did you bring girls here, while I was away?

Be honest.

And you told them about Chinese music?

By the way, China announced a couple of days ago,

they would build a city called Heihe there, over the river.

What do we care? We aren't allowed to go there anyway.

We aren't, but we can look from here.

Will you go buy me some cigarettes?

Stewardess?

- You remember what I like. - I do.

- Someone's birthday party? - A date.

You're spending a lot. Are you getting married or what?

You know, curiosity killed the cat.

What are you doing?

What's this?

Vladimir, I failed pathetically.

Come on, stop this now.

Are you a fighter or what?

Larisa, listen. Larisa?

Remember how we went hiking with our friends?

- Do you remember? - Of course.

Do you remember how scared everyone was to cross the swamp?

You were the only one to follow me, remember?

[Laughs]

[Crying]

Larisa.

Larisa, forgive me for not coming with you.

We would have made it together.

[Lock clicks]

There, Raisa. Like I promised you, safe and sound.

Why did you take so long? We were really worried.

- Mom, the flight was-- - It was a flat tire.

It's so clear. They kissed each other.

[Exhales]

Well, I'm off then.

Larisa, you shouldn't worry.

Next month, our pedagogical university holds entrance exams.

- Mom? - What?

This idea of Moscow was a mistake.

For the better.

Sometimes things happen for the better.

My marriage to your father was a mistake.

But thanks to this mistake, I have you.

And then I was lucky and I met my husband, Ivin.

And then I had Dmitriy, your dear sweet little brother.

And now I'm the happiest person in the whole world.

So, we are the results of your mistakes?

[Laughs]

And what do you think?

Nothing in this life happens without a reason.

[Vladimir] Mom, where's my belt?

The belt? Vladimir, what kind of man are you?

Can't find your belt? You're getting married soon.

How are you going to marry without a belt?

You know what, Vladimir? I have something to say.

Look at yourself in the mirror and look at her.

Stand next to her and compare.

No, don't look away. It's genetic, you know.

You're a handsome boy, stately and all that. And she?

These things, you know, you can't just ignore them.

- Just look - Mom!

She's so small and pale.

Mom, what? Your mom is tall, stately and decorative.

All women in our family are this way.

Look at us all. Look at me, look at my sister, all gorgeous.

- Mom, I've had enough of this. - I've got plans for you, great plans.

Guess where you're going for your student practice, Vladimir?

Cardiological hospital. I arranged it all.

Stop making decisions for me.

And yes, I am getting married.

- Very well, do as you wish. - Galya, you know--

- [Groans] - What's wrong, darling?

- I don't know. - Sit down.

Let him do what he wants.

Of course, Victor, if you always did what you wanted,

we would still be selling eggplants by the train station.

- Do what he wants. - Better relax.

Mom,

I have a right to decide. It's my life, it's my decision.

Very well. Take your decisions,

but without my car and my money, Vladimir.

Thank you very much, thank you.

And finally, the most important thing

in Plato's description of the senses

is the teaching of causality,

thus we have two composite elements,

two can emerge by way of adding one...

Look, your boyfriend's here.

Or dividing a whole being by two into two composite elements.

- This is a discussion that many philosophers - Upside down. It's upside down.

have taken to be reflected in science

in the nature of sexual reproduction.

[Lecturing continues]

[Cheerful music]

Vladimir, wait.

Larisa,

let's have a baby.

What are you talking about? We aren't married yet.

Let's get married.

What about our studies?

How will we manage? Where will we live?

We'll live in the flat that I inherited from my grandmother and we'll...

take day courses.

I will work night shifts.

It won't be easy at first,

but then...

I don't want to use mother's money or her car.

So, you have no money and no car?

Why didn't you tell me at once?

[Laughs]

I got you tricked.

You should have seen your face just now.

Let's go, Van Gogh.

[Russian song]

Vladimir?

[Song continues]

Stop.

[Song concludes]

More for me.

You always want more.

Great job, you made this place more comfortable.

It's all Vladimir.

He runs the house, he works and studies.

Larisa and I have done it all together.

Let's drink to this then.

Yes, well done.

He's reaching too, look at him.

[Lips smacking]

Vladimir, how's your mom?

I don't know. We aren't in touch.

Vladimir, this won't do.

Of course, she's concerned about you.

She called us and asked how you were.

Listen, Raisa, she has our address.

Having some money problems these days?

Tell me.

If you need money, we can always help you with that.

We don't have any money problems.

We have enough money. Thank you.

Well, we just wanted to buy you a trip.

You have been putting off your honeymoon.

We've already made plans for it.

Really?

Yeah. After student practice,

we're flying to Komsomolsk-on-Amur for wild camping.

An amazing place for a sweet honeymoon,

to feed mosquitoes in the Taiga.

Dad?

Do what you like.

Thank you, I'm done with this.

Look.

She looks a lot like you. Let's go see it.

This is fiction. None of this is true.

I don't know. It says on the poster, based on real events.

That's how they fill their seats. It's for naïve people like you.

- I'm choosing the movie next. - Shh!

I'm sorry.

And I like it.

I'm going to the ladies' room.

I'll be waiting in the café across the street.

I'll find it.

- Do you promise, Juliana? - [Chuckles]

I promise.

[Ominous music]

Anyone?

Comrades?

[Gasping]

[Groaning]

[Groaning in pain]

[Phone rings]

Yes, comrade General. Yes, sir.

Trial runs have gone well. We're going home tomorrow.

Not so hasty. I have a task for you.

A weather probing airplane collided with a passenger plane.

The ballistic missile launch was disrupted.

We need to find a culprit as soon as possible,

or all of our shoulder straps will fly.

I see. I'll deal with it.

I want you to fly to Zavitinsk at once and deal with it personally, comrade.

Yes, sir.

[Groaning]

[Grunting]

Vladimir, are you alive?

Anyone, alive here?

Hello?

- Good afternoon. - Greetings.

Greetings, comrades.

Present the cases of operational checks of the flight crew.

Arrange personal meetings for me with everyone involved.

Just identify the perpetrators.

Send officers to cut off the intercity connection.

- Do it after midnight. - Cut off?

Yeah. Climb onto the poles and cut off the wires.

Have you prepared the list?

Yes. These are our men, these are the civilians.

Get a car and an all-areas pass.

I'll give you my pass and my best driver.

No. I'll drive myself.

Bring a tractor to the platform, some sort of loader.

Pile up some boards and bags of cement.

We have a wagon with sand.

- Then make a mountain of sand here. - Understood.

- Don't break up the platform. - Yes.

I want you to report the accident.

Have you had aphthous fever in the area?

Announce an epidemic.

Now it is.

Send telegrams to the relatives of the deceased before midnight.

Here's the list.

Before midnight?

Yes. Brief telegrams. A road accident.

Do not discuss this with anyone.

- But I-- - Go to work.

Where will the operational headquarters be?

They will be in two adjacent rooms.

Both on the ground floor.

It's okay, I'm not going to stay here forever.

Ground floor will do. Gather everyone.

When the chairman comes, I can report to him and he'll gather them.

I'm your chairman now and also your general secretary,

is that clear, lady?

Gather everyone who is not in the forest.

The Taiga.

Very well. The Taiga. Go now.

Comrade Knyazev, good evening.

Comrade General, thank you for coming.

After you.

Wreckage is scattered over seven kilometers.

We're going to need a helicopter.

I'll give you mine.

Well, not yours, but the states,

and some more fuel.

[Clears throat]

We'll send it in the morning. There'll be enough fuel.

Set up check points on the roads to the city.

Here, aphthous fever epidemic. Make copies.

Will do.

Keep in touch by radio.

Bring all the flying machines back before midnight.

We're expecting bad weather tomorrow.

Understood.

[Lyuba clears throat]

Who are you?

Deputy director of Zavitinsk secondary school, number two.

- Where is the director? - In the Taiga.

Actually, I didn't go because I was sick.

You told me to bring everyone, so I did.

[Sighs]

Just go home and get better.

Thank you.

Should I go too?

Lyuba!

[Door slams]

Follow me, comrades. Today, we have a really interesting program.

We're walking by one of the beautiful alleys of the Nikitsky garden.

Oh, mom, look there.

Immediately after Yalto was liberated in April 1944,

restoration works began.

The director of the garden, Anatoly Koverga,

accomplished a real feat.

He drove thousands of kilometers through Poland and Germany,

and near Berlin, he found the lost herbarium.

Amazing accomplishment for this man.

Amazing.

- And that's what we're here to see. - I beg your pardon.

- Who is Raisa Kugai? - Me.

An urgent telegram for you.

Not only did Anatoly Koverga find this herbarium near Berlin,

he also managed to retrieve it.

His work is very well respected in his field.

[Helicopter whirring]

[Coughs]

[Helicopter whirring]

I repeat. While I'm in the camp, fly around the crash site.

Absolutely.

Try to mark all the spots with debris on the map.

But don't land, it's an order.

Comrade, will you be with us long?

You have a talkative flight mechanic.

The border with China isn't far.

[Straining]

[Distant helicopter whirring]

[Dramatic music]

I'm here!

Guys, I think I've seen something.

A young woman.

I'm here!

- That's strange. - Maybe she's the cook.

- Why would a young woman be there? - Most probably from the camp.

What if she's a survivor?

Perhaps we should check, comrade.

They fell from 5000 meters.

We aren't looking for survivors.

What's that?

The hat. I found it, the pilot's hat.

And the pilot.

[Puking]

What is it, son? They're all dead.

Don't be scared. They cannot do anything to you now.

- What? - I'm sick.

Go there quickly. Drink some lemon and salt.

It'll help you. Go there, drink it and come back.

Come back here quickly.

[Helicopter whirring]

Good evening, comrade Knyazev.

Good evening, comrade.

How was your flight?

It was fine.

Will you be staying here?

Come on, I'll show you how to work around here.

That's why I'm here.

So, comrades, I'm going to say it again.

We will fortify the chains tomorrow,

change the squares for all the rescue groups,

and do the same again.

And gradually expand the search square.

The border guards will give us good guides

who know the area well.

Yes, sir.

Don't touch anything that belongs to the military.

Leave a man by each piece of the debris,

send a liaison to the chief lieutenant.

All of this must be kept secret.

This is your main task.

My main task is to find the dead and bury them with dignity.

Perhaps, let's go back and check.

Did you hear what he said?

The devil only knows what's going on in his head.

When you have a wife and children, you will understand, I am sure.

- Sorry. - Okay, next please.

Hello. I have a telegram.

This is official. It's not my competence.

You have to see the airport attendant. Wait in line.

But my daughter was flying.

It's a very important matter. Please, you must help me.

Go right, then turn.

Darling, it doesn't say anywhere here that she has died.

But according to the rector, it was a car accident.

But my daughter was on that plane.

Mom, do planes really fall?

In our country, they don't.

You have nothing to worry about.

I'm giving you two tickets

for the day after tomorrow. Via Moscow.

- For the day after tomorrow? - Vacationers are going home.

Take what's available.

[Bird chirping]

[Tiger growling]

[Twig snaps]

[Tense music]

[Helicopter whirring]

[Coughs]

No one will come for us.

We would have made it together. I'll make sure to hold you.

We're flying west through Blagoveshchensk, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk.

We flew directly to the west.

'We will meet the headwind.'

You fell earlier.

The east.

Where is the east?

So dear audience,

I will show you how to make your very own compass using simple tools.

You'll need a needle.

Put a leaf into the water

and rub the needle against your sweater.

Magnetize the needle very well,

[Coughs]

and put it on the leaf like this.

Voila! It's sharp end points to the north.

Vladimir is a genius.

[Dramatic music]

[Thunder rumbles]

[Screeching]

[Thunder rumbles]

[Dogs barking]

[Dogs barking]

[Grunting]

[Screams]

[Tense music]

[Straining]

[Panting]

Well, comrades, the situation is very difficult.

We reported to the military that 811 was at 5400 altitude.

I have applications where it's clearly written

that the altitudes were 4200-45--

You weren't monitoring military aircraft on the radar.

We were sure that they were at different altitudes.

Zavitinsk flight control did not report a change of altitude.

According to our instructions, it's not our duty to monitor military aircrafts.

And don't you know that?

According to my instructions, I have to find who's responsible.

Don't you know that?

Let's go.

[Screams]

Hold onto me. - [Laughs]

Let's go.

[Screams]

[Laughter]

It was a good machine.

Absolutely reliable.

It was scattered over seven kilometers around.

And the Tupolev hit on the spot.

Only three of our guys have been found.

We will continue to search tomorrow.

[Grunting]

The chief of the Tupolev-16 group.

What happened there?

I saw a lightning flash on the screen.

I informed our ground control.

[Engine roaring]

We began to ascend. We made it.

But...

My comrades didn't--

I don't know how it happened.

I'm so sorry.

Forgive me.

Why was the maneuver not reported to the civil sector?

Comrade Knyazev,

according to the instructions, they only report to us.

There is something wrong with the instructions.

[Coughs]

[Foreboding music]

[Screams]

[Coughs]

[Bird screeching]

[Tiger growling]

'Attention to persons flying to Blagoveshchensk.'

'Your flight is delayed indefinitely due to weather conditions.'

I also have a connecting flight by night to Moscow.

My wife and son are at home.

I haven't seen them in a month.

What are you drawing there?

It's a secret.

I'll show you later.

Vladimir, it's getting cold.

I'll bring more firewood.

Don't take a peek.

Alright.

I'll be right back.

Vladimir?

Vladimir?

[Thunder rumbles]

Vladimir?

Are you sleeping?

Larisa?

Larisa? What's wrong?

Larisa, what's wrong? Tell me.

You are crazy.

Larisa, you seem upset.

What's the matter? - I wasn't worried. I'm not your governess.

My man must know how to deal with the hardships.

So, you don't care that the wolves out there could have eaten me?

Vladimir, you're wet. Wolves could eat me.

Let me go. It's cold.

Vladimir.

So, you're cold? You think I felt warm down the forest?

- Vladimir, stop. - I'll show you now.

Okay.

Bye.

Thank you.

Awful weather, eh?

Hmm.

Did you collect all you wanted, comrade?

We collected what we needed.

And the culprits? Did you find them?

It's more complicated than that, comrade.

Everyone here has made a mistake. It's all mixed up.

It's always easier to find a mistake

than the truth.

It's not me, Goethe said this.

Yes.

[Bird squawking]

Just wait for me. Please wait.

Yes. You wouldn't hesitate a moment.

[Unsettling music]

[Panting]

[Gunshot]

- Hi, dad. - Hello, son.

Go and take your luggage to the room.

So, what happened? What happened?

- Something with the plane. - Where?

Near Zavitinsk.

My friend Ivanych is the head of the district,

- but I can't catch him on the phone. - Let's drive over there.

Listen, the city is closed.

- They won't let us through. - Let's go anyway.

You need to rest for a couple of hours at least.

- No. No. - Yes, yes, you need to rest.

- No, we must go anyway. - Listen to me.

- We will go after you rest. - We must go now.

I must know what happened to my daughter.

We must go now. I must know what happened to my daughter.

No one can pass.

You don't have the right to close off a common road.

Now you will let me pass, okay.

You will let me pass.

I told you it's an epidemic.

No one can pass. That's our order.

Hello, Galya.

No one can pass, and they explain nothing.

We need to see the head of the district.

He knows me. We were college mates.

Even if you were, I have an order.

Call him to issue a pass for you.

- Telephone connection is down. - Wait until it works.

Goodness me!

Calm down.

What will we do now?

We must get him on the phone.

- Let's go. - Yeah, let's go.

Galya! Galya!

Galya, are you crazy?

- I'll show you. I'll show you. - [Gunshot]

What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Galya!

Dmitriy, I couldn't get you on the phone.

Detain them.

Our daughter was on board.

Hello, Ivan.

What is this?

Let her go. She needs to see me.

- Dmitriy, they almost killed us. - Almost but not quite.

I will sort this matter out.

You may go to your post.

You may go as well.

What happened to the airplane?

I am not allowed to speak about this matter.

It is forbidden.

I know it's forbidden.

Dmitriy, just be human.

Our children were on that plane.

- My daughter... - If you like we will sign all those non-disclosure papers.

Stop! You can't come in here.

Comrade Knyazev, may I talk to you in person for a couple of minutes?

What are the civilians doing here?

They are with me. They will sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Comrade General?

Well.

I'm all ears.

I'm asking for permission to speak, to speak about--

To speak about what?

The truth.

[Scoffs]

Are you saying you know the truth?

Stop tormenting us, comrade.

My son was on that plane.

- He's 19 years old. - Galya.

Our children were returning from their honeymoon.

What happened to the aircraft?

It fell down.

[Crying]

Then please show me my son's body.

- Is your family name Savitsky? - Yes.

We haven't found them yet.

So, they, they can still be alive?

I'm afraid that's impossible. The plane fell from very high.

How do you know? Perhaps a miracle happened.

Maybe my son is still alive and he needs help right now,

and you can't find him.

Let me go there. I'll find my son.

I understand you but continuing the search makes no sense.

- You didn't look well enough. - In three days, we found no survivors.

Let me go there and find my child.

I will find my child.

- Let me go there and find him. - Calm down. Calm down.

[Crying]

- Take a good look at them. - Here, drink this.

Take a good look at them and remember their faces, please.

They were planning to build a house,

to have a family and children.

Vladimir wanted to become a doctor.

He will be a brilliant surgeon.

I understand that you say the chances are slim.

But what if, what if they're still alive

and you're saying the search is pointless?

Do you even--

Listen, do you have children?

A son.

- You continue looking for your child. - Calm down.

You always know what you should do.

It's freezing here, come on, please don't fail me. Come on.

[Groaning]

[Coughs]

I thought I could fine you. What a fool.

Came all this way.

You always knew what to do.

It's freezing here.

Don't fail me.

Come on.

Please.

Please, please, please.

[Coughs]

This guy Ivan was a college friend of mine.

He fell in love with Raisa at the time.

And she already had a daughter named Larisa.

When you flew over the crash site, did you notice anything strange?

Not really.

We only saw the cook.

Tell me, what cook?

She was near the camp, waving.

The flight mechanic saw her.

Comrade Knyazev, I know everyone in this camp.

There is no cook there.

[Coughing]

[Poignant music]

Could you just wait for me?

Do you remember the place where you saw the girl?

Of course, comrade.

- We must fly there right now. - It won't be possible now.

Why?

Well, because it will get dark soon.

Showers and high winds are forecasted today.

Semyon.

No way.

We need to check.

It's not about instructions. It's only human.

I have been searching for you so long.

My little war machine.

I've always admired your immense courage.

You're a real fighter, Larisa.

You're even stronger than me.

You just don't know yourself.

You forgive me.

It's my fault.

If only, if only we could start again.

Larisa... Larisa...

I would rather have a day with you than a lifetime

without you around me.

But I have done so little for you.

Did you find my backpack?

Have you seen my drawings?

Larisa?

Yes. Sorry.

Well, surprise ruined I guess.

I wanted to surprise you.

Then let me sleep and forget.

And you will show me tomorrow as if I hadn't seen anything.

Alright then.

Why didn't you land when you saw her?

They ordered us not to descend.

Our orders aren't always correct, you know that, right?

[Whistles]

They saw her down there, comrade.

- Bring it down. - Okay.

[Helicopter whirring]

[Melancholic music]

[Wailing]

[Dramatic music]

I love you so much.

I'm here.

Hey, anyone out there?

Is there anyone alive?

[Gunshot]

[Coughs]

Just hold on. Take it easy.

[Coughs]

My dear girl.

Hold on.

My dear, do you know that you are close to the Chinese border?

Did you know that?

We, the Soviet people, cannot go to China.

We don't have to tell anyone.

We are here!

[Russian song]

Vladimir... Vladimir... I want to see him for the last time.

[Song concludes]

This was of course the main question.

Why? Why did this happen to me?

And this question still does not have an answer.

But it kept ringing in my head.

Not for months, for years, and that is how it was.

After what had happened, and no answer.

Vladimir and I were going to Crimea

on a package tour,

but we didn't because we got married,

and thus I joined a different family.

I could get a tour discount from the trade union

only as a member of my parents' family,

who I was not anymore.

And without a discount getting from Vladivostok to Crimea

was much too expensive at that time.

We were just students after all,

and it's not like we had money.

So, my mom and Dmitriy went to Crimea

and we went to Vladivostok to see my relatives there,

then his relatives in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Vladimir went to get the tickets without me.

He asked about the date, I suggested the 25th of August.

He came back and said, we're going on the 24th of August.

Yeah, 24th August.

And I got upset, even though it was just one day.

They had no tickets for the 25th, so what could we do?

He's been courting me for six months.

I don't know why. It was how these things were done then.

All romantic, I didn't think about it too much.

We got married very early.

A person can have premonitions.

I don't know, well--

This was his idea for us to get married.

Well...

He really, really wanted children very much.

And I kept telling him no.

I need to study.

Yes. That's how it was.

And then we flew back,

I somehow told him, okay, you have convinced me.

When we get back, we'll have a baby.

Yes, and he started crying. He sobbed like all men sob.

Out loud. [Laughs]

And I told him, hush hush, why are you crying?

We were in different student brigades.

He was in the north of our region and I, in the south.

We wrote letters to each other.

He missed me so much, yes.

In all of his letters, he wrote how bad he had it without me.

And in one of his letters, he tells me, I'd give half my lifetime only to see you.

Then he says, another half of my lifetime too.

And then he'd borrow more days from God only to be with me.

So, he made all those plans for our life ahead together.

It happens that plans don't always work out.

I think Vladimir's last wish was for me to survive.

I saw him in a dream only once.

A month after it happened.

I miss him so bad. In my dream, he was very real.

So, I asked him, where are you now?

There was a little house in a forest or something,

and he told me I'm here now.

And I asked him, why don't you come back?

And he told me, I can't.

And I was so happy to see him in my dream. [Sniffles]

But this happened only once. That's it.

I was so happy to see him in my dream.

That's it. [Sniffles]

I'm done telling you about love. I've said enough.

[Chuckles]