Note : The film is held in the State Film Fund (GFF) archive. It has survived with non-original title cards.
Plot synopsis
The whole family lives off the earnings of Iza, a street harpist. Iza is helped by her fiancé, Victor. Count Odaretsky, upon meeting Iza, becomes smitten with her and offers her a well-paid job in a restaurant orchestra. Iza agrees on condition that Victor works alongside her. The romance ‘Great Passion’ becomes the highlight of their restaurant repertoire. The Count continues to court Iza, even though she has already married Victor. One day, Odaretsky demands that Iza entertain him in a private room. Viktor and his musician friends rescue her from the Count’s advances. Time passes, and Viktor falls seriously ill; his treatment requires a great deal of money. Iza turns to the Count, but he sets a condition: she must become his mistress. Iza refuses. After Viktor’s death, she invites Odaretsky to her flat and kills him.