A godforsaken place in the depths of the Russian provinces. Young Ilya studies in a dusty and dilapidated establishment to become an English teacher. But he manages to escape the dullness and boredom thanks to the game of chess. Ilya shares the wonderful world of chess with the Tatar children of the village where he has been sent to teach. For a while, the chessboard becomes for the children and Ilya an alternative to real life. But this cannot last forever. One day, the young master is faced with a difficult choice…
