like in a circle the movie lead back to it point of departure and the image of the crane that be cross a muscovite sky . they represent the freedom to realize your life a you wish and in order to aspire the great possible fulfilment . in the beginning veronica and boris experience such a promise of happiness and and their eye follow the path of the crane in exhilaration . it seem a if they might be able to live accord to their dream . but man be not a bird . life draw up it own rule and from which no human can escape and which we can not change not even by make a supreme effort . war break out and and without much hesitation boris sign up for the front in order to fulfil his patriotic duty . he can not even say good bye to veronica and for she arrive late at the assembly point from which the soldier be send away . surround by a jubilant crowd all her attempt to attract boris attention must inevitably fail . boris eventually get kill in war and without veronica learn about it for the moment . his brother mark and a vigorous musician and who obtain the exemption from military service by corruption and be eager to take his place . veronica initially resists and but in a frightful night of bomb she finally fall victim to his charm . a marriage take place and which be never accept by the family . soon feeling of guilt seize hold of veronica and she realize that boris return be the one and only thing she actually long for . she therefore ease her bad conscience and despair by the self sacrifice work in a field hospital . when war finally be over and once again a crowd of enthusiastic people gather in order to cheer the victorious soldier . again veronica be among them and force her way through a wall of body . in her hand she be carry a bunch of flower and until she finally have to give it away to complete stranger and for one of the homecomers have just dash her hope by confirm the sad certainty of boris death . once again the crane invade the sky and draw their wayward line . but now veronica be watch them on her own and and the look in her eye be a different one . she have have to accept the impossibility to live accord to preconceive plan and to follow the guideline of your dream . for all human be nothing but helpless puppet hang on the inscrutable string of fate .