Hearing about the revolution in the hospital, the sailor Gulyavin goes to Petrograd, and from there with a detachment of Ukrainian volunteers he is sent to Ukraine. The troop is joined by cavalrymen under the command of the anarchist Lelka. The chief of staff, Stroyev, reproaches Gulyavin with negligence - you cannot take an untested detachment. However, the desperate courage of Lelka in battle with the White Guards gives Gulyavin not only respect for her, but love...

Russian Empire, the middle of the XIX century. Aged, beggar dramatic actor Lev Gurych Sinichkin, in search of work, wanders through the cities with his young daughter Liza. They dream that Lisa someday will succeed on stage and become a famous actress.