Avidiy Kallistratov is a religious idealist with a mission. In his quest to get rid of evil, he begins by investigating marijuana production and witnesses abuse, alcoholism and corruption first hand. The question is, whether the young messiah himself will be sacrificed. Chingiz Aitmatov is a Russian author, writing about subjects never openly discussed before Gorbachev's glasnost policies. He is one of Gorbachev's favourite writers and has written Farewell to Gulsary.