Plot

As far back as Yamil can remember, the war was always. But Yamil is waiting for its end, because then his Father, known to the boy only through photos and letters, will be back home. One day his Mother goes to a distant city and brings a silent girl Oksana. Mother also brings his Father's order to take care of Oksana as if she were his sister.

Winter 1945 in Sairanovo, a Bashkir village on the edge of the Ural Mountains. Six-year-old Jamil (Arslan Krymchurin) waits longingly for the end of the war. He hopes that his father (Ruslan Chaissarov), whom he only knows from photos and letters, will finally return. One day, his mother (Ilgisa Gilmanova) travels to a distant city and brings Oksana (Marta Timofeyeva) home with her. Jamil is supposed to look after her like a sister. While the boy goes about his task with a big heart and a lot of euphoria, Oksana remains silent. She does not understand the Bashkir language and is also terrified of any loud noise. Jamil's efforts to win over his sister seem futile, but the boy doesn't let up. In fact, Oksana slowly thaws out. And she also learns Jamil's big secret: together with his best friend Marat (Jussuf Rachmetow), he wants to fight in the army so that the war will end sooner and his father will come home sooner. The girl is unable to dissuade them from their plan.—MDR