Russian Empire, 19th century. Poor Nykanor leaves his village and becomes a miner in the Donbas. His son Ostap also becomes a miner and works in the mine for thirty years, but after his father's sudden dismissal, he realizes that the state system needs radical changes.

Aleksandr Antonov
Harbuz, local revolutionary

Aleksandr Chistyakov
Nykanor, the old miner

Ivan Chuvelyov
Ostap, Nykanor's son

Vladimir Gardin
mine owner

Gulya Korolyova
Varka, Ostap's daughter

Nataliia Uzhvii
Horpyna, Ostap's wife
Arseni Kuts
horseman
Daniil Vvedenskiy
Butylochkin
Anna Yegorova
Nykanor’s wife

Vera Shershnyova
Nastia
Leonid Kulakov
Serenka, worker

Lavrenti Masokha
servant

Yelena Tyapkina
resident of the village