1984, Sverdlovsk. The life of the student hostel goes on as usual. Its inhabitants, the heroes of the film, the freshman Zabela, the speculator Igor, the poet Ivan and the local nymphs Nelly and Sveta, maneuver between inner freedom and the way of the hostel, sharing sorrow and joy for everyone. Suddenly, one of the students commits suicide. Zabela and his friends are accused of leaving open the door to the roof, from which the girl threw herself. The hostel becomes a miniature model of the world, with the entire range of human passions, exploits, striving for virtue and falls, love, friendship and betrayal.