School friends (Nikita, Pavel and Genya) live in the capital. All three of them are successful businessmen. Several days before Nikita’s birthday (he is the main character in the film); Pavel and Genya bring to life a surprise. Having gathered together in some apartment and made Nikita drunk, they transfer him sleeping to the village, which is far away in deep woods and impassable terrain by helicopter.
Having made an agreement with the locals and hired two professional actors to play a steward and a house-keeper, they dress all the people in the costumes of the beginning of 19th century bonds.
Having awakened Nikita finds himself in unusual dress among unknown people, who bow to him and call him “Barin Nikita Pankratovich”. For the first moment he thinks that he lost his mind but professional acting convinces him that he really got into the past. Having reconciled himself with such a strange situation, “Barin” gets used to his new life style and gradually starts ruling the village, improving the way of life of his “bonds”. Besides, he fells in love with a girl Zaryana, who is some sort of wild forest nymph.
Yet all the plans are ruined by His Majesty Chance. The helicopter with Nikita’s friends crashes and falls into a marsh.
At this point their forest adventures start. The village is just a stone’s throw. They even hear the cocks crowing. But all around there is impassable terrain and marshes. So friends have nothing else to do than try to get to the village at their own risk.