A summary of "The House of the Rising Sun" by Ivan Okhlobystin

Ivan Okhlobystin’s novella, written in the late 1990s and published in 2007, immerses the reader in the sociocultural milieu of Soviet hippies of the 1970s. A notable feature of the text is its autobiographical precision: the author meticulously captures the everyday life of a rebellious youth who sought absolute freedom despite strict state regulations. In 2010, the novella was successfully adapted into a film by director Garik Sukachev under the title "House of the Sun." The film earned acclaim from audiences, received a number of awards, including the Steppe Wolf Prize, and cemented the aesthetics of Russian nonconformism in the public consciousness.

The storyline revolves around Sasha, affectionately nicknamed "Princess" by her friends. She grew up in a wealthy family belonging to the nomenklatura. Her father, Vladlen Aleksandrovich, enjoys high status, and her mother, Elizaveta Anatolyevna, maintains a strict household. Sasha’s life changes dramatically after meeting an informal leader nicknamed "Sun." This charismatic young man introduces her to a different worldview, far removed from ideological cliches and the familiar Soviet way of life. Sasha develops a liking for this new acquaintance and his circle.

Soon, Sun comes to visit Sasha. The girl’s parents are sitting quietly in the next room of their large apartment. Vladlen Alexandrovich is nervous. Lying on the wide oak bed, he nudges his wife in the side and expresses outrage at the presence of the strange young man. The father worries about the safety of the car and apartment, fearing the guest’s unpredictable antics. Elizaveta Anatolyevna maintains her composure. In a calm voice, she asks her husband to lie still, reasoning that it’s better for young people to kiss at home, not in a dark entryway. Sun, meanwhile, behaves with utmost tact. Once in Sasha’s room, he looks with interest at the paintings on the walls. When Sasha throws her arms around his neck, he quietly asks if he should open the curtains. When she refuses, the young man agrees and gently kisses Sasha on the cheek.

The Sun possesses an independent mind and ignores social hierarchies. While visiting a restaurant, he notices a sad, amorous student couple. The young man motions them to his table and promises to give them the surprise of a lifetime. He utters a philosophical thought about how not all that glitters is gold, then calmly departs, leaving the students dumbfounded. Near the door, the Sun encounters the doorman. He addresses the burly man with the demeanor of a widower as Kuzmich and casually demands change for twenty-five rubles. The doorman mechanically opens the door, corrects him by saying his name is Vitalich, and shakes his head. This short dialogue vividly illustrates the hero’s freedom from everyday conventions.

The narrative’s geographic focus then shifts to the sea. Sasha secretly travels south with a group of hippies. This motley crew includes the faithful Gerda, the skinny music lover Skeleton, the energetic Maloy, the Chilean Juan, and the gifted Korean. The boys encounter local realities: one day, they leave a disgruntled, braided demobilized soldier on the pebbles, who watches them with a dazed expression.

The young couple rent a place from a local woman, Baba Olya. In the courtyard, they are greeted by the loud barking of their guard dog, Pacific. The skeleton notes with a touch of irony that the dog still doesn’t like them, suggesting that the fundamental laws of the universe remain unchanged.

On the coast, Sasha is forced to adapt to Sun’s aloof behavior patterns. The young man regularly leaves her alone and disappears in an unknown direction. He entrusts Gerda to look after Sasha while he goes off on business. Sasha sighs resignedly and accepts these rules of communication. One day, waking up around lunchtime, she washes her face from a tin washbasin. Skeleton peeks out from behind the veranda door. He beckons Sasha over, enthusiastically shows her the colorful sleeve of Pink Floyd’s new record, and invites her to listen to the rare recording. Sasha spends time with her new friends, sharing their free-spirited views.

The plot’s denouement centers on the protagonist’s radical move. The Sun stands in front of his makeshift shelter, placing a canister of fuel on the ground. The young man lights a cigarette and calmly throws the lit match over the threshold. A bright flame instantly erupts inside. The Sun watches the fire in silence for a moment, then slings his backpack over his shoulder and leaves forever.

Meanwhile, Sasha and her friends are leaving for home. Sasha boards the train, goes into her compartment, and takes a seat by the window. Across from her sits a sweaty but contented Maloy, who has just loaded his heavy bags into the vestibule. The car sways, and the southern expanses begin to flash by the window. Soon the whole group is gathered in Sasha’s compartment: Gerda, Skeleton, Juan, and the Korean. With everyone’s tacit consent, Gerda places a bottle of port on the table. Juan opens the wine, hands it to Sasha, and asks her to take a sip.

The train picks up speed. Sasha watches tensely as the trackman’s booth approaches. A man sits in the doorway, his silhouette a perfect replica of the Sun. As he approaches the booth, Sasha realizes with amazement that it really is him. For a second, their gazes meet. The girl nods slightly, and the Sun smiles brightly at her.

Music plays inside the compartment, and the boys understand the meaning of the old song. They realize that free people searched for happiness for a long time until they realized that freedom itself is their ultimate goal. The girl nervously paces the carriage, asking where the sun is now. Maloy reassures Sasha. He confidently declares that if the sun promised to appear, then she will definitely see it.

Sasha points to the black smoke billowing above the rooftops and mentions a fire. Maloy gazes indifferently into the distance and pragmatically remarks that it’s the local boiler house smoking.

Juan repeats his toast. Sasha obediently takes a small sip and hands the bottle to Skeleton. Gerda asks again about the Sun’s whereabouts. Sasha is momentarily taken aback, as if waking from his thoughts, then picks up the bottle again and joyfully offers a toast in honor of the Sun and his burned-out house.