Could One Imagine? 1981
Directed by
Ilya Frez
Made by
Gorky Film Studios
Could One Imagine? Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Could One Imagine? (1981). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
High school student Katya Shevchenko Tatyana Aksyuta moves to a new district and quickly befriends classmate Roman Lavochkin Nikita Mikhajlovsky at their school. What starts as a simple friendship blossoms into a sincere and enduring romance, a connection that seems to catch the adults around them off guard. Roman’s father, Konstantin [Albert Filozov], once carried a quiet affection for Katya’s mother Lyudmila [Irina Miroshnichenko], who chose to reject him, a history that shadows the present relationship. Roman’s mother Vera [Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina], consumed by jealousy toward Katya’s family, outwardly resents Katya and her daughter, and she is determined to keep the teenagers apart by force.
To drive a wedge between the young lovers, Vera engineers a calculated ruse: she transfers Roman to a different school and forbids any meeting or correspondence. Yet the bond between Katya and Roman resists distance; their feelings persist even as walls of misunderstanding rise around them. Vera escalates her plan by falsehoods, persuading Roman to travel to Leningrad to “care for” a supposedly ill grandmother. That grandmother, played by Tatyana Pelttser, has no real illness—she carries out the deception to sever the lovers’ ties.
Within this tense atmosphere, Katya remains determined to uncover the truth. She receives quiet support from their circle, notably from their teacher Tatyana Nikolaevna [Yelena Solovey], who navigates her own personal life while standing up for the students. It falls to Tatyana Nikolaevna to reveal Vera’s deception to Lyudmila and her husband, and Katya makes a bold decision: she will travel to Leningrad to unearth the truth for herself.
Back in Moscow, Roman is left perplexed by Katya’s silence; every letter she writes seems to vanish, intercepted by his watching grandmother. He reaches out to Tatyana Nikolaevna, hoping for clarity, only to be misidentified as Mihail [Leonid Filatov], the teacher’s former lover. The miscommunication becomes a painful moment, and the warning to “never call again” echoes through Roman’s confusion. Yet the truth gradually surfaces from a tense phone conversation between the grandmother and Vera, revealing the heart of the rift: a calculated plot to keep Katya and Roman apart.
Shocked by the betrayal of those closest to him, Roman retreats to his room. Katya, sensing the danger and motivated by love, travels to Leningrad to confront what is really happening. The two lovers finally collide with the truth and their defiant hope persists. As Roman peers out his window, Katya stands nearby in the city, and the obstacles looming over their relationship threaten one last time. In a climactic moment, Roman steps onto the windowsill, loses his balance, and falls from the frame—only to be cushioned by a snowdrift. Katya rushes to his side, pulling him to his feet, and the two collapse back into the snow together, their fate sealed by the quiet, unspoken promise of renewed togetherness. The scene is watched by two passing children, a quiet testament to the enduring innocence of youth amid the complexities of adult schemes.
Could One Imagine? Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Could One Imagine? (1981) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Moscow: Katya meets Roman and a quiet romance begins
Katya moves to a new district and meets Roman Lavochkin at school, and their friendship soon deepens into something more. Their growing romance is noticed by teachers and some classmates, hinting at how fragile young love can be when faced with adult history. The pair become a symbol of hope amid a web of family tensions.
Family pasts set the stage for conflict
Behind the tenderness, the adults carry long-held grievances: Vera resents Katya's mother Lyudmila, while Konstantin's past affection for Lyudmila haunts Vera. These undercurrents foreshadow attempts to pull the couple apart. The stage is set for adult interference to threaten their future.
Vera moves to separate the couple
Vera actively tries to keep Katya and Roman apart by transferring Roman to another school and forbidding them to meet. The couple's plan to stay connected is frustrated by the distance and new social barriers. The adults' actions intensify the stakes of their romance.
A deceptive 'illness' sends Roman away
Vera deceives her son by sending him to Leningrad under the pretense of caring for a sick grandmother. The trip is a deliberate ploy to separate him from Katya. The grandmother is used as a tool in Vera's larger plan, though her alleged illness is later revealed as a ruse.
Support from friends and a decision to uncover the truth
Despite the separation, Katya is supported by loyal classmates and teacher Tatyana Nikolaevna, who remains a steady ally. Katya resolves to go to Leningrad to uncover the truth for herself. This resolve marks a turning point as she prepares to confront the deception head-on.
Misunderstanding poisons a crucial contact)
Roman, unable to understand Katya's silence, calls Tatyana Nikolaevna for guidance. She misreads the situation and bluntly tells him never to call again. The miscommunication widens the rift and amplifies the emotional distance between the lovers.
The deceit is revealed to Roman
Roman overhears a telephone conversation between his grandmother and his mother and learns that the supposed illness is a sham. The revelation shatters his trust in the people closest to him and intensifies his longing for Katya. He realizes he has been manipulated for an unknown motive.
Truth reaches Lyudmila and Vladimir
Tatyana Nikolaevna uncovers Vera's deception and informs Lyudmila and Vladimir about what's truly happening. They confront Vera and begin to support Katya and Roman, changing the dynamic of the conflict. The family learns that the couple's love might endure despite the adults' schemes.
Katya decides to travel to Leningrad
Empowered by the new information, Katya commits to going to Leningrad to uncover the truth and reunite with Roman. She prepares for the journey and steels herself against the obstacles ahead. The decision sets the stage for the physical crossing from Moscow to Leningrad.
Katya arrives in Leningrad and begins her search
Katya reaches Leningrad and starts her investigation, determined to locate Roman and reveal Vera's manipulation. Her arrival marks the shift from circumstantial intrigue to direct confrontation with the people keeping them apart. The search is fraught with uncertainty, but her resolve remains strong.
Intercepted letters and growing isolation
In Leningrad, Katya's letters to Roman are intercepted by his grandmother, further cutting off any direct communication. The lovers' bond is strained as information and contact are tightly controlled. The isolation heightens the tension of the impending confrontation.
The window moment: a perilous reunion in the snow
In a climactic moment, Roman, trapped in his grandmother's house, looks out the window and sees Katya approaching. He calls to her, but his grandmother tries to keep them apart and even shoves him away. He slips on the windowsill, and the fall is cushioned by a snowdrift; Katya rushes to him as they fall back into the snow, watched by two passing children.
Could One Imagine? Characters
Explore all characters from Could One Imagine? (1981). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Katya Shevchenko (Tatyana Aksyuta)
A high-school student who moves to a new district and pursues a growing love with Roman. She shows resilience in the face of adults' attempts to keep them apart and decides to travel to Leningrad to find the truth. Her courage, curiosity, and loyalty drive the romance forward.
Roman Lavochkin (Nikita Mikhaylovsky)
A devoted, sometimes impulsive teenager whose understanding of love is tested by months of no letters. He confronts confusion and betrayal from his family and holds on to Katya's memory. His sense of longing fuels the narrative's emotional core.
Lyudmila Sergeevna, Katya's mother (Irina Miroshnichenko)
Katya's mother, once connected to Konstantin, whose relationship with him shapes the family dynamics. She supports Katya and seeks the truth behind the deception, navigating the emotional fallout of adult decisions. Her resilience helps uncover the real motives behind the plot against the couple.
Vera, Roman's mother (Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina)
Vera is driven by jealousy toward Katya's family and schemes to separate her son from Katya. She orchestrates the move to another school and the fabricated sickness of the grandmother to keep them apart. Her manipulation catalyzes the central conflict of the story.
Tatyana Nikolaevna, literature teacher (Yelena Solovey)
The kind and perceptive teacher who supports Katya and Roman with practical help and moral encouragement. She uncovers Vera's deception and tells the truth to Katya's mother, becoming a bridge between the children and their families. Her personal life challenges also add depth to her character.
Roman's Grandmother (Tatyana Pelttser)
A cunning grandmother who fabricates illness and intercedes to separate the lovers. Her calculated actions reveal how older generations can manipulate family dynamics. Her scheming is ultimately revealed, driving the protagonists toward a fragile reunion.
Could One Imagine? Settings
Learn where and when Could One Imagine? (1981) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Moscow, Leningrad
The story unfolds across Moscow and Leningrad, two of Soviet Russia's largest urban centers. The settings contrast the familiarity of Katya's new district with the distant, bustling environment of Leningrad. The cities provide the backdrop for social pressures, secret correspondence, and the journey of two young lovers.
Could One Imagine? Themes
Discover the main themes in Could One Imagine? (1981). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
💖
Love vs. Society
A high-school romance faces adult interference and rigid social expectations. Vera's jealousy and Katya's mother's past with Katya's father drive attempts to keep the couple apart. The lovers' perseverance demonstrates how youth can challenge norms when their feelings are strong.
🔎
Truth vs Deception
A web of manipulation, deception, and intercepted letters tests the couple's trust. The teacher uncovers the motives behind the separation and helps reveal the truth to Katya's mother. The narrative centers on discovering reality beneath a veil of lies.
🏫
Friendship and Support
Classmates and the literature teacher become emotional anchors for Katya and Roman. Their solidarity sustains hope as adults try to drive a wedge between them. Shared loyalties and mentorship show the power of community in times of family conflict.
Could One Imagine? Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Could One Imagine? (1981). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a crisp Soviet‑era suburb, Katya Shevchenko arrives at a new school, carrying the quiet confidence of a girl accustomed to change. In the hallway of lockers and whispered jokes, she meets Roman Lavochkin, a classmate whose easy smile quickly turns a simple friendship into something deeper. The corridors of their high‑school become a stage where youthful curiosity and first love play out against the backdrop of gray concrete and lingering winter light.
Their connection feels both fresh and inevitable, yet the adults around them move in shadows of old regrets. Konstantin, Roman’s father, once nurtured a soft affection for Katya’s mother Lyudmila, a feeling that never found its voice and now hangs over the teenagers like an unspoken promise. This lingering history colors every glance and conversation, giving the pair’s romance an undercurrent of tension that the school’s humming routine can’t quite drown out.
Adding to the strain is Vera, Roman’s mother, whose jealousy toward Katya’s family flickers through everyday interactions. Her protective instincts border on manipulation, creating an uneasy atmosphere that forces the young lovers to navigate not only their own feelings but also the expectations and anxieties of the older generation. Amid this, Tatyana Nikolaevna, their teacher, watches with a mixture of empathy and weary resolve, offering quiet encouragement while wrestling with her own tangled romantic past.
The film swirls between tender moments of adolescent discovery and the weighty, often silent battles of those who have lived longer. Its tone is melancholic yet hopeful, painting a portrait of a love that must contend with the invisible walls built by history, pride, and the yearning to protect the ones we cherish. The story invites viewers to wonder how young hearts will chart their course when the world around them is already drawn in lines of old grievances.
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.