It seems that in high school, Gedas, Edma, Arnas and Irma were an inseparable foursome of romantics who gathered on an old barge. Now they are no longer children, but they are not yet grown up.
Lithuania in the 19th century: While the first railway-road is built from Warsaw to Moscow throughout the country people are still facing slavery and oppression from the elite. A fight between the Robin-Hood-like gang leader Laurynas and the greedy landowner Laurnyas emerges.
Petras Kurmelis is a hardworking but tight-fisted peasant, he marries for convenience and wants the bride to bring a good dowry to the house. But marriage does not bring him happiness.