What Is Going Inside a Storm About?
The premise of Going Inside a Storm in 268 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the austere halls of a 1950s Leningrad university, a restless curiosity about the sky fuels a quiet revolution. The campus reverberates with the clash between rigid Soviet doctrine and a daring new field—cybernetics and the raw power of thunderstorms. Against a backdrop of cold concrete and whispering generators, the film breathes an atmospheric tension, where the very weather becomes a metaphor for ambition and restraint.
Sergei Krylov and Oleg Tulin are two bright‑minded physicists bound by a shared, almost mythic vision: to tame the fury of storms and channel it for humanity’s benefit. Their partnership is rooted in friendship and intellectual camaraderie, yet their inner compasses point in opposite directions. Sergei clings to an uncompromising quest for truth, while Oleg is willing to navigate the murkier currents of personal advancement. This divergence seeds the film’s central moral dilemma, hinted at in every laboratory corridor and lecture hall.
Around them swirl mentors and peers who embody contrasting philosophies. A seasoned professor embodies patient, long‑range inquiry, whereas other authorities demand rapid, utilitarian results—such as harnessing storms to protect crops. The presence of a spirited young woman, Lena, adds a personal dimension that softens the stark scientific rigor, suggesting that love and longing may intertwine with the pursuit of knowledge.
The tone remains a measured blend of intellectual drama and brooding existentialism, punctuated by the ever‑present rumble of distant thunder. As the characters wade deeper into their research, the film invites viewers to contemplate the price of idealism, the allure of compromise, and the electrifying possibility that humanity might one day step inside a storm without being consumed by it.
What Happens in Going Inside a Storm?
The complete story of Going Inside a Storm, from the first scene to the last, in 500 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1952, at the University of Leningrad, two budding physicists—Oleg Touline and Sergei Krylov—share a radical dream: to tame the weather and harness thunderstorms as a tool for scientific progress. The campus climate treats cybernetics as a bourgeois fantasy, and Sergei’s public challenge, dismissing it as electronics wedded to mathematics, sets him on a collision course with authority. His bold stance leads to his expulsion and the loss of his scholarship, forcing the pair to confront a central question that drives the film: should a scientist compromise to keep working, or stay true to a stubborn ideal?
With his future unsettled, Sergei takes a factory job while continuing his studies at night. He crafts a presentation on gas discharge and presents it to Professor Dankevitch, a renowned mind in the general theory of electric fields. The debate is intense, and Dankevitch exposes flaws in Sergei’s results, pushing him to doubt his own abilities. Determined, Sergei resolves to study under Dankevitch, even as the professor initially rejects him. He eventually earns a place as a porter in Dankevitch’s research building, earning admission to Professor Anikeev’s lab team, where a pragmatic, unorthodox mentor shapes his approach to real-world experimentation and mentors him toward Dankevitch, who later accepts him into the team.
As Sergei becomes absorbed in his work, he meets Lena, a spirited young woman who initially resists his advances but gradually warms to him. The project’s fate mirrors a wider clash: Dankevitch’s patient, long-range method confronts the broader scientific community’s appetite for immediate, tangible gains—such as thunderstorms that could protect crops. Dankevitch eventually loses funding and credibility, and Oleg urges Sergei to walk away from the project. Yet Sergei faces a moral test and chooses to stay, convinced that persistence is essential to genuine discovery.
Dankevitch’s health worsens, and Sergei’s impatience grows. He joins a global expedition to gather data for his thesis, a choice he later regrets when he hears praise for Dankevitch abroad. Returning to Leningrad, he discovers Lena has married someone else and that he missed Dankevitch’s funeral. Estranged from his colleagues, Sergei works in administration until a turning point—Dankevitch had once recommended him to Galitsine, a revelation that rekindles his drive to move to Moscow and continue his research on atmospheric electricity.
Meanwhile, Oleg pursues his own experiments, proposing a daring plan to fly a plane into the center of a thunderstorm. Despite resistance from Galitsine and a safety general, the project gains approval. Tragedy strikes when a colleague, Richard, dies in a plane crash caused by a sabotaged storm detector, shaking the entire endeavor to its core.
In the aftermath, Sergei defends the project before an inquiry commission, while Oleg abandons his experiments. Drawing on Dankevitch’s notes and Richard’s calculations, Sergei delivers a pivotal lecture that vindicates his course and, against all odds, earns institutional support for the continuation of the work. Reunited with Lena and buoyed by vindication, Sergei steps into his mentor’s legacy and prepares to push the boundaries of atmospheric electricity even further.
Going Inside a Storm Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Cybernetics clash and Sergei's expulsion” to “A new chapter begins”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Cybernetics clash and Sergei's expulsion
In 1952, at the University of Leningrad, Oleg Touline and Sergei Krylov pursue a dream of climate control. Sergei publicly challenges a professor who dismisses cybernetics as bourgeois pseudoscience, and he is expelled along with the loss of his scholarship. Oleg arranges meetings with university directors, urging Sergei to stay humble while continuing his work, but Sergei refuses to compromise his principles. The film frames a central question: should a scientist bend to institutions to keep working, or stay true to ideals?
When:1952 Where:University of Leningrad
- 2
Sergei seeks Dankevitch as mentor
After the expulsion, Sergei takes a factory job while studying at night. He prepares a presentation on gas discharge and presents it to Professor Dankevitch, a respected authority on electric fields, who identifies flaws in his results. Undeterred, Sergei decides to study under Dankevitch, even though the professor initially rejects him. He becomes a lab assistant in Professor Anikeiev's team through Anikeiev's endorsement, and Dankevitch eventually takes him on.
When:early 1950s Where:Leningrad (Dankevitch's lab; Anikeiev's team)
- 3
Sergei meets Lena
During his early work, Sergei meets Lena, a spirited woman who initially rebuffs his advances but gradually warms to him. Their relationship grows amid the pressures of research, giving Sergei a personal stake in the stormy science they pursue. Lena's support becomes a quiet counterpoint to the turmoil of the scientific struggle.
When:mid-1950s Where:Leningrad
- 4
Clash of visions and funding loss
Dankevitch champions long-term inquiry, while the broader scientific community demands immediate practical gains, such as thunderstorm-derived agricultural benefits. The disagreement costs Dankevitch funding and credibility, and the project loses traction. Oleg advises Sergei to leave Dankevitch's group, but Sergei chooses to stay, torn between loyalty and principle.
When:mid-1950s Where:Leningrad
- 5
Dankevitch's illness and the expedition
As Dankevitch's health deteriorates, Sergei grows impatient and questions his mentor's pace. He joins a global expedition to collect data for his thesis, hoping to accelerate progress. On returning, he hears praise for Dankevitch abroad, which unsettles him and brings into focus the mentor's legacy.
When:late-1950s Where:Global expedition sites / Leningrad
- 6
Return, Lena's marriage, and the funeral
Back in Leningrad, Sergei discovers that Lena has married someone else and that he has missed Dankevitch's funeral. Estranged from his colleagues, he drifts into administrative work in an attempt to stay connected to science. The personal losses compound the professional distance he feels from his old circle.
When:late-1950s Where:Leningrad
- 7
Galitsine connection and Moscow move
Sergei learns that Dankevitch had recommended him to Professor Galitsine, opening doors to new opportunities. Motivated by this support, he leaves for Moscow to continue his research on atmospheric electricity, seeking a more conducive environment for his ideas.
When:late-1950s Where:From Leningrad to Moscow
- 8
Oleg's bold storm mission and tragedy
Oleg pursues a daring project to fly a plane into the center of a thunderstorm, despite opposition from Galitsine and a safety general. His persistence finally wins approval, but the mission ends in tragedy when colleague Richard dies in a crash caused by a sabotaged storm detector.
When:late-1950s Where:Flight into thunderstorm center
- 9
Inquiry, defense, and retreat
Following the tragedy, Sergei defends the project before an inquiry commission, arguing for continued exploration. Oleg, meanwhile, abandons his experiments, choosing to step away from the dangerous work he started.
When:late-1950s Where:University inquiry commission
- 10
Vindication through synthesis and lecture
To vindicate Oleg's ideas, Sergei uses Dankevitch's notes and Richard’s calculations to deliver a groundbreaking lecture at the university. The scientific committee unexpectedly supports his continued research, recognizing the merit of the new synthesis.
When:late-1950s Where:University lecture hall
- 11
Reunion with Lena and renewed purpose
Sergei is reunited with Lena and is vindicated in his work, taking up the mantle of his late mentor. He resolves to push atmospheric electricity research further, with Lena by his side as a partner in both life and science.
When:late-1950s Where:Leningrad
- 12
A new chapter begins
With the mentor's legacy in hand, Sergei commits to advancing science beyond the known limits. The story closes on a note of ongoing exploration and resolve to continue the mission ahead, setting the stage for future breakthroughs.
When:late-1950s Where:University setting
Who Are the Main Characters in Going Inside a Storm?
7 characters, among them Sergei Krylov (Aleksandr Belyavskiy), Oleg Tulin (Vasili Lanovoy) and Lena (Zhanna Prokhorenko): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- SK
Sergei Krylov (Aleksandr Belyavskiy)
Played by Aleksandr Belyavskiy
A highly ambitious and principled physicist who clashes with established authorities. He persists with his studies through night classes after expulsion, seeing through the flaws in his early results and eventually joining Dankevich’s team. His journey tests loyalty, humility, and the question of whether idealism can survive in a competitive scientific climate. He ultimately leaves for Moscow to continue his research, driven by conviction rather than convenience.
- 🎓 Young Scientist
- 🧭 Perseverance
- 💡 Innovation
- OT
Oleg Tulin (Vasili Lanovoy)
Played by Vasili Lanovoy
A daring experimentalist who wants to push science to the edge of the storm. He pursues a bold project to fly into the center of a thunderstorm, facing opposition but winning a form of approval for his dangerous work. His risk-taking culminates in tragedy when a sabotage accident claims a colleague’s life, catalyzing the film’s ethical evaluation of scientific audacity.
- ⚡️ Risk-Taker
- 🌩️ Storm Hunter
- 🧭 Explorer
- L(
Lena (Zhanna Prokhorenko)
Played by Zhanna Prokhorenko
A spirited woman who initially rebuffs Sergei’s advances but grows to support him and his work. Their relationship endures personal upheaval as Lena marries someone else, underscoring the human cost of scientific obsession and the emotional collateral of a life spent chasing breakthroughs.
- 💞 Romance
- 👩🎓 Independent
- 🫶 Support
- D(
Dankevich (Rostislav Plyatt)
Played by Rostislav Plyatt
A seasoned professor of the general theory of electric fields who champions long-term inquiry and hands-on mentorship. He suffers a decline in funding and credibility as his cautious approach clashes with the drive for immediate results, and his death underscores the personal price paid by mentors in a flawed system.
- 🧪 Mentor
- 🧠 Theoretical
- 🔬 Scientist
- A(
Anikeev (Anatoliy Papanov)
Played by Anatoliy Papanov
A pragmatic mentor who emphasizes practical work and hands-on experience. He helps Sergei integrate into the research team and advocates for Dankevich to back Sergei’s potential, embodying a bridge between theoretical aspiration and usable technique.
- 🛠️ Mentor
- 🧭 Pragmatist
- 🧰 Craftsman
- G(
Galitsine (Mikhail Astangov)
Played by Mikhail Astangov
A figure of authority who questions new directions and safety considerations, representing institutional caution. He and a safety general oppose aspects of Oleg’s storm project, illustrating the conflict between ambition and regulatory oversight in dangerous experiments.
- 🏢 Authority
- ⚖️ Regulation
- 🛡️ Safety
- R(
Richard (Lev Prygunov)
Played by Lev Prygunov
A colleague whose death in a plane crash—caused by sabotaged equipment—becomes a grim reminder of the risks embedded in high-stakes atmospheric experiments. His loss catalyzes a pivotal moment of reflection for the remaining characters.
- ✈️ Accident
- 🕯️ Tragedy
- 🗝️ Consequences
Where and When Is Going Inside a Storm Set?
Going Inside a Storm is set in Leningrad and Moscow (1952). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1952
Set in 1952, the film captures the early Cold War era in the Soviet Union, a time of intense state interest in science and control of knowledge. Cybernetics is dismissed as bourgeois pseudoscience, illustrating political pressure on researchers. The period emphasizes the lure of immediate practical gains, such as weather-control applications, against long-term theoretical work. Academic life is a battleground where funding, reputation, and life-or-death decisions hinge on inherited doctrine.
Where
Leningrad, Moscow
The story is anchored in the University of Leningrad and its surrounding research facilities, where corridors of power and laboratories shape the ambitions of young scientists. The city atmosphere hints at a broader Soviet academic world, with campuses that push for breakthroughs while navigating political caution. The backdrop expands to Moscow as Sergei’s career unfolds, reflecting a national stage for scientific pursuit. The film uses these settings to contrast pristine theory with messy, practical experimentation.
- ❄️ City
- 🧭 Cold War Era
- 🧪 Scientific Research
What Are the Themes of Going Inside a Storm?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Integrity, Mentorship and Progress.
-
01
Integrity
A central question drives the narrative: should a scientist compromise personal principles to secure support or recognition? Sergei’s insistence on rigorous foundations and skepticism toward shortcuts frames his journey. The film uses his choices to examine the cost of steadfast idealism in a politics-driven scientific landscape. It portrays integrity as both a personal compass and a risky, costly stance.
-
02
Mentorship
Mentors shape Sergei’s path, from Anikeev’s pragmatic guidance to Dankevitch’s patient but demanding approach. The dynamic explores trust, loyalty, and the tension between nurturing talent and demanding results. As Dankevitch’s health and standing waver, the mentorship becomes a crucible that tests Sergei’s resolve. The relationships illustrate how guidance can propel breakthroughs while bearing personal costs.
-
03
Progress
The pursuit of knowledge is pitched against the slow pace of theory, with politics and funding shaping what counts as progress. The plan to harness storms for practical benefits demonstrates the lure of tangible outcomes over abstract understanding. The film probes whether rapid steps toward application justify potential bets on risk and ethics. It ultimately questions the balance between advancement and responsibility.
-
04
Weather
Storms symbolize the film’s central laboratory: dangerous experiments, aerial tests, and the possibility of catastrophe. Oleg’s daring plan and the sabotage that leads to Richard’s death highlight the human and moral costs of pushing the weather frontier. The narrative threads achievement with tragedy, urging a careful evaluation of the price of control over nature. In the end, Sergei’s vindication suggests weather science as a field earned through perseverance and responsibility.
What Kind of Film Is Going Inside a Storm?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A steady-paced and hopeful drama following a scientist's decades-long struggle to uphold his principles against professional compromise, marked by personal loss, tragic setbacks, but culminating in a hard-won vindication of his mentor's legacy.
- hopeful
- ambitious
- melancholic
- perseverant
- tense
- reflective
- scientific integrity
- academic rivalry
- mentorship
- personal sacrifice
Content notes: death of a colleague.
Quiz
How well do you remember Going Inside a Storm? Test yourself on the story.
