Mikhail Ulyanov, portraying "Yesenin," had enjoyed past literary achievements, but now finds himself struggling with a sense of creative decline and a fear that his work is no longer valued. Hoping to reignite his inspiration, he embarks on a journey with fellow writer "Paschin" (Evgeniy Vesnik) and their eager assistant "Maria" (Yevgeniya Nechayeva) to the snow-covered town of Vladimir. His arrival itself reflects his general attitude toward life, as he instructs his companion to make an unauthorized turn off the road, drawing the attention of a young, easily influenced police officer (Sergey Nikonenko). He attempts to both charm and threaten the officer to avoid a traffic citation, which seems to encapsulate his own feelings of powerlessness, despite the officer’s admiration for his writing. A visit to the local museum further complicates things when he meets "Sasha" (Inna Churikova), the curator who once appreciated his work but now dismisses it as unimportant due to her age and experience. While he finds himself drawn to both her intellect and her personality, she offers what feels like a subtle critique of his writing. This might just provide him with a way out of his creative block...? The film initially shows promise, featuring some bickering set against a backdrop of snow and Schubert music, but the detached and somewhat static directing style and cinematography soon begin to create distance, preventing viewers from truly connecting with the characters. There are too many extended shots, an excess of what’s intended as “insightful” narration, and while I occasionally noticed some chemistry between Ulyanov and Vesnik, it was lacking between him and Churikova; furthermore, his interactions with Nechayeva felt almost comical at times. Was this meant to be a test of the audience's endurance? It does offer glimpses into his thought processes, which are admittedly chaotic, but ultimately it needed greater clarity for the viewer and less of an outpouring of angst. The film was once prohibited in the Soviet Union, but considering the abundance of food and drink present in this wintry setting, I would have assumed it represented exactly the kind of success they’d want to showcase.

Source on TMDB