Set in a bleak coastal town in northern Russia, where Kolya (Aleksei Serebryakov), a hot-headed mechanic, lives with his second wife, Lilya (Elena Lyadova), and his teenage son, Roma (Sergey Pokhodaev), from a previous marriage. Kolya’s modest life is overshadowed by a legal battle with Vadim Shelevyat, the corrupt and authoritarian town mayor, who is trying to seize Kolya’s land and home under the pretext of eminent domain.
Kolya’s property is located in a picturesque spot overlooking the sea, making it a prime location for the mayor’s ambitious plans to build a luxury mansion. Kolya believes the expropriation is illegal and unjust, but his attempts to fight the system seem hopeless. To strengthen his case, Kolya enlists the help of Dmitri (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), an old army friend who is now a lawyer in Moscow. Dmitri arrives armed with legal expertise and a folder of compromising information about Vadim’s corrupt dealings, which he intends to use as leverage.
Despite Dmitri’s efforts, the legal system, deeply entrenched in corruption, rules in favor of Vadim. The mayor, drunk on power and alcohol, intimidates Kolya with the full weight of the state, including the police and judiciary. Dmitri’s attempts to negotiate with Vadim fail, and their confrontation turns violent when Vadim, enraged by the lawyer’s audacity, threatens him with dire consequences.
As the pressure mounts, the personal lives of the characters unravel. Kolya’s relationship with Lilya becomes strained, exacerbated by his drinking and volatile temper. Lilya, feeling trapped in the oppressive environment, begins an affair with Dmitri. Roma, already resentful of his stepmother, discovers the affair and lashes out, deepening the family’s dysfunction. Kolya, heartbroken and humiliated, confronts Lilya and Dmitri, leading to a bitter fallout among the three.
Vadim, meanwhile, consolidates his power. After learning about Dmitri’s blackmail attempt, he calls in favors from higher authorities and arranges for Dmitri to be assaulted and forced to leave town. Vadim’s ruthlessness demonstrates the near-absolute control he wields over the town and its inhabitants.
The situation takes a darker turn when Lilya goes missing. Her body is eventually found, and her death is ruled a suicide. The tragedy shatters Kolya, who spirals further into despair. However, the police, under Vadim’s influence, accuse Kolya of murdering Lilya. Despite the lack of evidence, Kolya is arrested, tried, and convicted in a sham trial. He is sentenced to a lengthy prison term, effectively silencing him and removing the last obstacle to Vadim’s plans.
The film ends with Vadim standing triumphant. He oversees the demolition of Kolya’s home, replacing it with an opulent church built to bolster his public image as a pious leader. The final scenes juxtapose the new church’s grandeur with the harsh realities faced by the ordinary townspeople, underscoring the pervasive corruption and moral decay in the system. Kolya’s story becomes a grim metaphor for the struggle of the powerless against the leviathan of state and institutional authority.
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