"Zigzag of Fortune" by Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov, summary Automatic translate

This book is a satirical situation comedy that exposes human frailties in the face of sudden wealth. Created in 1968 by a talented creative duo, the text explores with surgical precision the transformation of camaraderie within a small work team when large sums of money are at stake. The authors reveal the sincere motives of each character through the lens of everyday life in a small town.

The story was adapted into a film with extraordinary success the year it was released. The film of the same name was directed by Eldar Ryazanov, with the famous Soviet actor Yevgeny Leonov playing the lead role. The film quickly achieved classic status.

Collection of contributions and secret loans

The "Tvoy Portret" photo studio is experiencing a severe shortage of clients. It’s late December, residents are busy with pre-New Year’s chores, and the studio’s production targets are dwindling. Director Kirill Ivanovich Polotentsev, burdened with ten children, is searching for a way out of the planning and financial impasse. Photographer Vladimir Antonovich Oreshnikov is asking employees to take photos of themselves to salvage their production.

The team enthusiastically supports the idea, which then prompts the need to collect membership dues for the local mutual aid fund. Oreshnikov volunteers as cashier. He collects banknotes from his colleagues, including the strict local committee chairwoman, Alevtina Vasilyevna; the hard-drinking retoucher Petya; and the young lab technicians, Yura and Ira.

The money is locked in an iron safe. That evening, Oreshnikov secretly climbs through the pavilion window. He takes the cash from the metal box and leaves a handwritten receipt in exchange. With these funds, Vladimir Antonovich buys a three-percent loan bond from Olya, the savings bank controller. The young people spend the evening together and develop a mutual attraction. Oreshnikov dreams of buying a professional Zenit-112 camera and becoming a famous reporter.

Sudden wealth and the judgment of colleagues

During a public drawing at the city theater, Oreshnikov suddenly discovers a match. His bond wins ten thousand rubles. He rejoices wildly in the audience, but word soon reaches his colleagues. Alevtina Vasilyevna quickly figures out the source of funding for the successful purchase. An emergency union meeting is called at the studio.

The outraged employees demand an equal split of the winnings. Oreshnikov desperately resists, but the team forcibly searches his pockets and confiscates the security. During a vote, his colleagues decide to deprive Oreshnikov of his share. At the same time, they remove the beautiful photographer Lidiya Sergeevna from the list. She hasn’t paid her dues for several months, which provides a formal basis for expulsion.

A disgruntled Lidiya Sergeyevna quarrels with her husband, a radiologist. Out of jealousy, he carries away all the furniture from the apartment in a truck. She decides to take revenge on her colleagues and attempts to seduce Oreshnikov. Vladimir Antonovich himself manages to quarrel with Olya. Intoxicated by thoughts of cars and luxury, he refuses to buy his girlfriend a mink coat. Meanwhile, Alevtina Vasilyevna accepts the clumsy advances of Ivan Stepanovich Kalachev, the elderly director of a motor depot.

New Year’s Pursuit and Repentance

It’s the evening of December 31st. Ivan Stepanovich Kalachev cashes a banknote at the savings bank. Controller Olya tries to delay the payment, suspecting a crime against Oreshnikov, but the money still ends up with the team. The co-workers gather in the photo booth around the festive table. They prepare to divide up the wads of bills, accompanied by the clinking of champagne glasses.

Oreshnikov and Lidiya Sergeyevna execute the interception plan. The photographer dresses up as Father Frost, barges into the banquet, and, under the pretext of distributing gifts, turns off the lights. Lidiya Sergeyevna sneaks through a window frame and steals bundles of banknotes. The robbed employees give chase through the snowy night streets. The fugitives hide in a dark alley. Lidiya Sergeyevna willingly hands over the package to Oreshnikov.

Instead of escaping, Vladimir Antonovich takes only two of his allotted shares. He places the remainder of the sum on the sidewalk, securely weighing it down with a brick. The pursuit catches up with the couple in the central square. Oreshnikov sincerely admits his moral defeat and apologizes to his comrades. As the chimes ring loudly, the touched team forgives the defectors. Director Polotentsev divides the sum fairly among all participants.

Life after triumph

Oreshnikov breaks up peacefully with Lidiya Sergeyevna right there on the square. Dressed as Father Frost, he goes to Olya to make peace, and she lets him in. Lidiya Sergeyevna trudges to her husband, a radiologist. Her husband, who had just managed to bring the furniture back to the empty apartment, threatened to jump out of the sixth-floor window in his grief.

In January, the lucky prize winners begin spending their capital. Yura and Ira, who had long dreamed of a co-op apartment, head to a department store. They succumb to temptation and spend their savings on a "Vecher" television and a beautiful floor lamp. Alevtina Vasilyevna buys an expensive fur coat and fishnet stockings. The outfit completely disfigures her, but Kalachev tactfully compliments the bride on her appearance in public.

Director Polotentsev sadly realizes that the winnings won’t be enough to satisfy all his children’s needs. Oreshnikov abandons his dream of owning a camera. Instead, he buys an expensive fur coat for Olya. A few days later, Kirill Ivanovich asks Oreshnikov for some money from the mutual aid fund. The team needs to celebrate winning the challenge pennant. Oreshnikov takes a new bond from his pocket and says hopefully, "Maybe we’ll get lucky again. We’ll get lucky."