A group of scientists are sent to the planet Arkanar to help the local civilization, which is in the Medieval phase of its own history, to find the right path to progress. Their task is a difficult one: they cannot interfere violently and in no case can they kill. The scientist Rumata tries to save the local intellectuals from their punishment and cannot avoid taking a position.

Director: Aleksey German

Cast: Leonid Yarmolnik, Dmitriy Vladimirov, Laura Lauri, Aleksandr Ilin, Yuriy Tsurilo, Evgeniy Gerchakov, Aleksandr Chutko, Oleg Botin, Pyotr Merkurev