The events take place in 1919 in Bessarabia.

Luceafarul, a god living among the stars, falls in love with a mortal woman, charmed by her beauty. He promises her eternal love and immortality. Will that be enough to convince hew to leave this world and its pleasures?

Leader of a traveling gypsy band from the steppes of Bessarabia (now Moldova), Toma Alistar is a skilled violinist whose fame takes him on tours around European capitals and royal courts. He remains obsessed with his first love, beautiful Leanca who was married elsewhere while Toma was traveling, and spends his life and fortune trying to find her.

影片改编自高尔基早期创作的若干短篇小说，主要情节取自《马卡尔·楚德拉》Макар Чудра。《马卡尔·楚德拉》是一则茨冈人的爱情传奇，讲述盗马贼洛伊科与骄傲的美女拉达之间的生死爱恨。 故事发生在19世纪后期奥匈帝国边陲比萨拉比亚地区（注：比萨拉比亚Бессарабия——德涅斯特河及普鲁特河之间的地域，10-11世纪归属基辅罗斯，14世纪属于摩尔多瓦公国，16世纪被土耳其占领，1812年归属俄罗斯帝国，1918-1940被罗马尼亚侵占，1941年后是苏联摩尔多瓦加盟共和国大部分地区以及敖德萨州南部，现为摩尔多瓦共和国）。主人公是四处流浪的茨冈人，他们的艰辛生活与奇特风尚在高尔基笔下散发出苦涩而热烈的气息。

An aristocrat falls for a young woman who brings him ruin. Based on Chekhov's story. AKA A Hunting Accident, The Shooting Party.

The film is based on the biography of the legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.