Master and Man

In the biting cold of a Russian winter, a bustling parish fête gives way to a frantic race against time. Vasili, a prosperous innkeeper and church elder, rushes to secure a timber grove before city dealers can outbid him, pocketing a modest sum that barely reflects its true worth. The stakes are high: a profitable purchase could secure his standing, yet the hurried departure hints at the precarious balance between ambition and prudence.

Among his few reliable hands is Nikita, a seasoned laborer who, for the first time in months, has kept his promise to stay sober. Though his wages are modest and his loyalty bought with uneven generosity, Nikita’s sturdy work ethic and gentle demeanor earn him a place in Vasili’s household. Their uneasy partnership, framed by the harsh landscape and looming winter, sets the stage for a quiet clash of need, pride, and the uneasy ties that bind master and man.