In the winter of 1942/1943, a series of not-so-well known, yet bloody battles occurred near the town of Rzhev. Those battles received the name of 'Rzhev Meat Grinder'. The film is based on the award-winning novel by Vyacheslav Kondra

September 1941. In a turn of events young lovebirds Kostya and Nastya find themselves on board of a barge that will evacuate people from sieged Leningrad. At night the barge gets into the storm. When it starts sinking, enemy planes - but not rescuers - are the first to arrive at the scene.

Russia, May 1942. Well behind friendly lines a veteran sergeant commands a small anti-aircraft unit. His troops are inexperienced women. They will soon be tested in battle as the Germans parachute a crack squad of saboteurs into the

The film tells the story of the Podolsk cadets' heroic stand outside Moscow in October 1941. Cadets from the Podolsk infantry and artillery schools were sent to the Ilyinsky line of defense, fighting alongside units from the Soviet 43rd Army to hold back the German advance until reinforcements arrived. Hopelessly outnumbered, young men in their teens laid down their lives in a battle lasting almost two weeks to obstruct the far superior German forces advancing towards Moscow. This film is not only about war. It is also about love, true camaraderie, and the path from boyhood to manhood. Around 3,500 cadets and their commanding officers were sent to hold up the last line of defense outside Moscow. Most of them remained there for eternity.

1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.