But life is so short (1989)

Members of the folk choir of the village of Nyuksenitsa in the Vologda region, elderly, single women, change their clothes before the performance, sing, and dance on the street of the village.

The song "Prokati nas, Petrusha, na traktore" is performed by the choir. A. A. Filinskaya sings ditties of her own composition. P. P. Shushkova sings wedding lamentations.

The heroines of the film: A. A. Filinskaya, P. P. Shushkova, A. M. Klementyeva in a conversation with the creator of the film talk about their difficult lives.

Residents of the village see off the film crew at the pier.

A small ship approaches the pier.

People disembark.

A bus crosses the river.

People inside the bus.

The bus with the choir members arrives in the village.

The choir members put on costumes, put on lipstick, and preen themselves.

Spectators gather.

The choir performs (synchronously).

Accordion player. P.P. Shushkova, one of the choir members (synchronously). P. Shushkova weaves a rug on a wooden loom and narrates.

A photo of a young Red Army soldier in a Budenovka hat.

Spectators.

A photo of young A.M. Klimentyeva, a member of the choir. A. Klimentyeva is sitting on a bench near the house, reading letters from her deceased husband (synchronously).

A photo of A. Klimentyeva with her husband. A. Klimentyeva is sitting in a hut at the table.

The village at night.

Early morning, a fisherman on the river bank.

Fog.

The choir sings ditties. A.A. Chelinskaya leads the singing.

A photo of young A. Chelinskaya. A. Chelinskaya sings, sitting at the table in the house.

Photo of A. Chelinskaya's husband.

A woman sews a concert costume.

A boy goes into the river.

A village street.

A young woman dances in the yard of a house.

A house with a carved balcony and boarded up windows.

Abandoned houses.

An old tree without leaves.

A choir sings.

A collapsed house.

A village.

People stand on the Nyuksenitsa pier.