After the liberation of the North Korean Red Army from Japanese rule in August 1945, junior lieutenant
Yakov Novichenko remains with the Koreans to help them rebuild the ruined country. But the country is still uneasy: the bourgeois Koreans, who lost power and property, together with the US military advisers, are preparing a plot to overthrow
Kim Il Sung. On 1 March 1946, a rally is opened in
Pyongyang, dedicated to the 27th anniversary of the
March First Movement against
Japanese colonial rule in Korea. At the rally the Chairman of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea Kim Il Sung begins to speak. Suddenly, one of the conspirators throws a grenade in his direction. Junior Lieutenant Novichenko quickly runs up to him, takes it in his hand and, not knowing where to throw it, lies down on it with his body. The grenade explodes, but the book that the Soviet officer accidentally placed under the greatcoat saves his life. Severely wounded Novichenko is being carried off by his comrades, and Kim Il Sung continues his speech. The rally continues and the conspiracy fails. Doctors save the life of Yakov Novichenko, but he loses his right hand. The film ends with his visit to North Korea in 1984. == Release ==