What Is Beanpole About?
The premise of Beanpole in 347 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the frozen ruins of post‑war Leningrad, the city swallows its survivors whole, its streets slick with snow and memory. The war’s relentless siege has left the population fragmented—broken bodies lean against cracked walls, and the air hums with the quiet desperation of those who must rebuild a life that feels almost fictional. Within this stark tableau, a modest hospital serves as a fragile sanctuary where the remnants of conflict linger in the scent of antiseptic and the soft rustle of communal apartments.
Iya Sergeyevna, a tall, stoic nurse known by the nickname “Beanpole,” moves through the wards with an almost hypnotic calm, her presence a grounding force amid the frantic urgency of healing. She carries a quiet inner tremor, moments when the weight of past trauma makes her feel temporarily unmoored, yet she remains a steadfast caretaker for patients and neighbors alike. Across the hallway, Masha arrives fresh from the front, her uniform still dusted with the grit of battle and an unmistakable scar that hints at the physical price of war. A former anti‑aircraft gun crew member turned soldier, she now seeks a new purpose within the same walls that once saved her comrades.
The two women’s lives intersect in the cramped corridors of their shared building and the bustling, smoky corridors of the hospital, where doctors and nurses grapple with both physical wounds and lingering psychological scars. Their relationship blossoms out of shared solitude, a silent understanding that each is trying to stitch together the torn fabric of identity and hope. Around them, the city’s bleak beauty—its skeletal architecture, frosted rivers, and the perpetual clang of distant reconstruction—creates a backdrop that is both oppressive and oddly poetic.
Amid the simmering cold and the lingering echo of artillery, Iya and Masha navigate the delicate balance between survival and yearning, each searching for a sliver of meaning in a world that has been irrevocably reshaped by conflict. Their quiet bond, set against the stark, desolate canvas of Leningrad, promises a story of resilience, intimacy, and the fragile pursuit of hope in the aftermath of unimaginable loss.
What Happens in Beanpole?
The complete story of Beanpole, from the first scene to the last, in 791 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
At the end of the Second World War, Iya Sergeyevna, Viktoriya Miroshnichenko as a tall nurse nicknamed Beanpole (Дылда), works in a Leningrad hospital under Dr. Nikolai Ivanovich Andrey Bykov. Iya sometimes suffers fits where she is temporarily immobile, just slightly trembling. She lives in a communal apartment with the three-year-old boy Pashka Timofey Glazkov.
One day, Iya accidentally smothers the child to death while suffering an episode. Days later, Masha arrives at Iya’s room, returning in uniform from the front, and asks where her son Pashka is.
Bitter about his death, yet seemingly unfazed, Masha invites Iya out dancing. They accept the invitation to go with Sasha Igor Shirokov and his friend in their car. Masha orders Iya out of the car to go on a “walk” with Sasha’s friend so Masha can have sex with the very bashful Sasha. Iya attacks Sasha’s friend when he attempts to seduce her, and beats Sasha over the head when she finds him having sex with Masha. The next day while at a communal bath, Iya notices Masha’s abdominal scar, and Masha tells her that she wants to have a child to heal herself.
Masha begins work at the hospital, telling Dr. Ivanovich that she and Iya served together in an anti-aircraft gun crew, but Iya was discharged after suffering a traumatic head injury, while Masha continued serving in the army. Shortly afterwards, the wife of Stepan Konstantin Balakirev, a paralyzed soldier, arrives at the hospital to find her husband alive, despite having already told her children that he was killed at war. Stepan cannot bear the idea of returning to his children as a quadriplegic. Alongside his wife, they beg Nikolai Ivanovich to euthanize him. Nikolai is at first extremely opposed to the idea, but eventually relents, asking Iya to do the task and indicating it will be the “last time”. Iya hesitantly agrees and during one night injects Stepan.
Masha, on night watch and lying down due to fatigue due to the war, watches Iya and Stepan. Afterward Dr. Ivanovich examines Masha and confirms her infertility.
Masha asks Iya to bear a child that would be Masha’s. When Iya vehemently refuses, Masha reminds her that she “owes” her a child after she let Pashka die in her care. At a party, Masha asks Dr. Ivanovich to impregnate Iya; he refuses, but she blackmails him, threatening to make public the euthanasia. Masha says she doesn’t care if Iya is also exposed. Later in their room, Iya insists Masha lie against her in bed, while the doctor penetrates Iya, who cries and is distraught.
Masha continues to see Sasha afterwards, frustrating Iya, who is confused and jealous. Iya finds out she is not pregnant. While trying on a dress for their seamstress neighbor, Masha twirls frantically and frenetically over and over and over. Iya calms Masha by kissing her. Masha initially fights her off but Iya suffers episode, during which Masha kisses her strongly in return.
Later, after an argument in which Iya orders Sasha to stop coming to their apartment with food, Sasha invites Masha to meet his parents. Iya walks to Dr. Ivanovich’s house and tearfully asks him to impregnate her. He declines, but invites her to come with him and leave the city tomorrow.
Masha visits Sasha’s parents at their large, posh estate, where Sasha introduces her as his girlfriend, soon to be wife, but Masha receives a very cold response. The mother judges Masha for having served as an “army base wife” (Походно-полевая жена). Masha “reveals” that her abdominal scar was not caused by a combat shrapnel injury as she had earlier described to the doctor, but by many abortions. Her comment is a stereotype of what civilians think about fighting women during the war — not respecting those women’s sacrifice and heroism. She says what those people could believe in, instead of the truth. She asserts that Sasha loves her, and they will have a child, given to them from her friend. The mother warns Masha that Sasha would become bored with her and discard her. Sasha, enraged, storms out of the room, and Masha rides the tram home alone.
On the way home, Masha’s tram hits a tall woman. Masha is unable to recognize the woman dead underneath the tram, and runs home to find Iya having an episode. Iya reveals she is not actually pregnant. Masha begins hitting her, but stops. Masha promises Iya that Sasha won’t be coming around any more, and that they will be together from now on, will have a good life and raise a healthy child together, who will resemble both mothers, and will cure them from all pain they have carried until now. The two weep together in an embrace.
Beanpole Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “End of the war and Iya's hospital work” to “Tram accident, non-pregnancy revelation, and embrace”. 15 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
End of the war and Iya's hospital work
At the end of World War II, Iya Sergeyevna, nicknamed Beanpole, works in a Leningrad hospital under Dr. Nikolai Ivanovich. She sometimes suffers fits that leave her momentarily immobile, or tremble. She lives in a communal apartment with three-year-old Pashka, a boy in her care.
When:End of World War II Where:Leningrad hospital
- 2
Pashka's death during a fit
During one of her fits, Iya accidentally smothers the child in her care, a tragedy that haunts her. Days later, Masha returns to Iya's room in uniform from the front and asks what happened to Pashka. The atmosphere thickens with guilt and fear.
When:Shortly after the episode Where:Communal apartment, Leningrad
- 3
Dancing invitation and car plan
Bitter about Pashka's death, Masha invites Iya out dancing and they join Sasha and his friend in their car. The invitation foreshadows a night of entangled loyalties and desire. Iya accepts, stepping into a night that will blur the lines between care and cruelty.
When:The next day Where:Car (Sasha's vehicle)
- 4
Sasha's seduction interrupted; Iya's violence
Inside the car, Sasha's friend attempts to seduce Iya and is repulsed; she lashes out at him. Later she discovers Sasha having sex with Masha and assaults him, fracturing trust and setting the stage for a tense relationship among the trio. The night ends with ruptured bonds and unresolved longing.
When:Soon after the invitation Where:Car
- 5
Bath encounter and motive for motherhood
The next day, in a communal bath, Iya notices Masha's abdominal scar, and Masha reveals she wants a child to heal herself. The exchange deepens the sense of shared need and complicates their bond. The search for motherhood becomes a bitter common thread.
When:The following day Where:Communal bath
- 6
Masha's backstory and hospital work
Masha begins work at the hospital and tells Dr. Ivanovich that she and Iya served together in an anti-aircraft gun crew. Iya, however, was discharged after a traumatic head injury, while Masha continued serving. The doctor notes their different fates and the mounting tension between them.
When:Shortly after Where:Hospital
- 7
Euthanasia request for Stepan
Stepan's wife arrives at the hospital to beg for euthanasia for her paralyzed husband. Nikolai Ivanovich is initially opposed but relents, telling Iya to perform the act 'the last time.' Iya hesitantly agrees and carries out the injection one night. The act centers on guilt, mercy, and the demands of others.
When:One night Where:Stepan's room, hospital
- 8
Infertility and night watch
During night watch, Masha is exhausted from the war, and Iya's euthanasia leaves its mark. Dr. Ivanovich examines Masha and confirms her infertility. The knowledge compounds Masha's plan and the imbalance between the two women.
When:That night Where:Hospital
- 9
Masha's demand for a child
Masha insists that Iya bear a child for her, citing the debt she believes Iya owes after Pashka's death. Iya refuses, and Masha uses threats of exposure to pressure her. The tension between them deepens and foreshadows further coercion.
When:After infertility was confirmed Where:Their room
- 10
Doctor impregnates Iya
At a party, Masha pushes Dr. Ivanovich to impregnate Iya, but he initially refuses. Later, in their room, the doctor violates Iya, while Masha lies beside them, complicating the trio's dynamic and sealing Iya's fate in the scheme.
When:Later Where:In their room
Show the other 5 events of Beanpole Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Iya not pregnant and Sasha's entanglements
Masha continues to see Sasha, frustrating Iya, who learns she is not pregnant. The domestic triangle remains unstable as desires shift and jealousy grows, with Sasha's presence intensifying the precarious balance.
When:Following the impregnation Where:Their apartment and Sasha's visits
- 12
Masha's breakdown and Iya's calming kiss
At a party, Masha frenzies and dances uncontrollably; Iya calms her by kissing her. Masha initially resists but ultimately yields to the moment, showing a fragile tenderness beneath the volatility. The kiss becomes a fleeting moment of relief amid the turmoil.
When:After the argument about Sasha's presence Where:Room/party
- 13
Iya's plea and plan to leave
Iya asks Dr. Ivanovich to impregnate her, but he declines and instead invites her to leave the city with him the next day. The possibility of escape hints at a final choice about who will shape Iya's future. The moment underscores Iya's longing for a new beginning.
When:After the argument with Sasha Where:Dr. Ivanovich's house
- 14
Masha's visit to Sasha's parents
Masha visits Sasha's prestigious parents and is met with cold disdain. Sasha's mother judges her as an 'army base wife' and questions the legitimacy of their relationship. The scene highlights the social prejudice that haunts the two women.
When:Later Where:Sasha's parents' estate
- 15
Tram accident, non-pregnancy revelation, and embrace
Masha's tram hits a tall woman; she cannot recognize the dead body and rushes home to find Iya in the midst of another episode. Iya reveals she is not pregnant after all. In a final, tender twist, Masha promises that Sasha will stay away; they vow to be together and raise a child, who will symbolize healing for both of them, and they embrace in tears.
When:After the tram accident Where:Tram route; then home
Who Are the Main Characters in Beanpole?
6 characters, among them Iya Sergeyevna (Beanpole), Masha and Dr. Nikolai Ivanovich: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- IS
Iya Sergeyevna (Beanpole)
Played by Viktoriya Miroshnichenko
A tall nurse scarred by the war who endures episodes of immobility and carries deep emotional trauma. She moves quietly through care and crisis, forming a tense bond with others while confronting guilt over Pashka’s death. Her resilience and vulnerability drive the film’s moral and emotional arc.
- 🧠 Traumatised
- 🪖 War-weary
- 💪 Resilient
- M
Masha
Played by Vasilisa Perelygina
A front-line veteran returning with a scar and a hardened, possessive desire for healing through a child. She uses Iya to pursue a future she believes she deserves, demonstrating jealousy and manipulation within their fragile dynamic. Her presence catalyzes the moral tensions that drive the story.
- 💔 War-weary
- 🎭 Manipulative
- 🧭 Calculating
- DN
Dr. Nikolai Ivanovich
Played by Andrey Bykov
A hospital physician who becomes the arbiter of life-and-death decisions. He initially resists euthanizing Stepan but eventually relents, and later faces pressure about impregnating Iya or exposing secrets, highlighting ethical conflict in postwar medicine.
- ⚕️ Doctor
- 🧭 Ethical conflict
- 🧩 Moral dilemma
- S
Stepan
Played by Konstantin Balakirev
A paralyzed veteran whose wife seeks euthanasia. He embodies postwar trauma and the burdens of disability while wrestling with love for his family and fear of dependence.
- ♿ Paralyzed
- 🕯️ End-of-life
- 👨👩👦 Family man
- P
Pashka
Played by Timofey Glazkov
A three-year-old boy living in a communal apartment whose accidental death becomes a focal point for survivor guilt and the fragility of postwar life.
- 🍼 Child
- 💔 Innocence
- 🫶 Vulnerable
- S
Sasha
Played by Igor Shirokov
A friend of Iya and Masha who becomes part of their complicated social circle, reflecting desire, tension, and the precarious boundaries of relationships in a war-weary world.
- 🎭 Ambiguity
- 🫶 Complication
- 🚗 Car scenes
Where and When Is Beanpole Set?
Beanpole is set in Leningrad and USSR (late 1940s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
late 1940s
The events take place in the immediate postwar period, as society tries to recover from the trauma of the siege and widespread losses. The era is marked by scarce resources, moral ambiguities in medical care, and the fragile process of rebuilding family life. These conditions shape how characters make difficult choices and confront their past.
Where
Leningrad, USSR
The story unfolds in Leningrad at the end of World War II, centered on a hospital and the shared communal living of its residents. The city bears the scars of war as its survivors begin to heal and rebuild. The hospital becomes a focal point for care, trauma, and moral struggle amid the postwar environment.
- 🗺️ Leningrad
- 🏥 Hospital
- 🏢 Communal apartment
What Are the Themes of Beanpole?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Trauma & memory, Motherhood & longing and Care & ethics.
-
01
Trauma & memory
War trauma threads through Iya and Masha, manifesting in physical episodes, guilt over Pashka's death, and haunting memories. The film portrays how memory is embodied—through behavior, relationships, and moral decisions—long after the fighting ends. The hospital and home life become spaces where pain surfaces, is processed, or is suppressed. This theme anchors the narrative in the cost of war on ordinary people.
-
02
Motherhood & longing
Masha's longing for a child and Iya's precarious situation reveal how motherhood is sought, negotiated, and contested after war. The characters explore whether a child can heal trauma or perpetuate cycles of pain and dependence. The pursuit of creating a family exposes power dynamics, vulnerability, and the ethical boundaries of care. The film uses this theme to question who gets to define motherhood in a scarred society.
-
03
Care & ethics
Euthanasia looms large as a practical and ethical dilemma when Stepan's life is weighed against his suffering and duty to his family. The doctor’s decisions and limits test professional duty versus personal conscience. The film interrogates how care is administered under pressure, and how secrets or coercion can influence crucial medical choices. Ultimately, the narrative probes what it means to help someone end their pain while preserving moral integrity.
What Kind of Film Is Beanpole?
Dark in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A profoundly somber and emotionally draining character study set against the bleak backdrop of post-war Leningrad, exploring the traumatic bond between two women desperately seeking redemption and meaning.
- somber
- traumatic
- claustrophobic
- melancholic
- bleak
- strained
- ptsd
- survival
- friendship between women
- grief and loss
Content notes: euthanasia, child death, sexual coercion, trauma, war aftermath.
Quiz
How well do you remember Beanpole? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Beanpole
Stream it on Hoopla and Kanopy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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