A boy named Kosta is born. At 9, his father compels him to quit school and work for the family pottery. Undiscouraged, Kosta studies nightly, nurturing a love for literature, especially poetry and communism.

Kosta and friends escape trouble with drunk police. Later, he attends a Communist Party Congress in Dresden but is arrested at the Austrian border on his return. After 3 months, Kosta returns home to find an army service invitation.

After facing harassment by the army corporal, Kosta visits Skopje often to organize a poetry reading, facing opposition from authorities. He befriends Antun Kolendic. The police are informed that Kosta leads the local Communist movement.

During a picnic, police spoil the fun for Kosta and friends. Heading home, Kosta's friend Stevan Galogaza arrives, but as agents and police approach, both Stevan and Kosta are arrested.

Kosta endures torture in prison. After 6 months, he's transported for a tense trial in Zagreb, where he and Stevan Galogaza are sentenced to 4 years in jail.

Imprisoned Kosta discusses language, literature, and politics. Upon release, he reunites with Nevena, discovering Gancho's death. During a Party writers' clash, Kosta defies orders by refusing to attack Miroslav Krlezha.

Tito orders to ban Kosta from the party. Despite the separation, Kosta asks Nevena to join him in Skopje, but she stays in Veles. They meet regularly, attend the first Macedonian play, motivating Kosta to finish his Macedonian poems.

Kosta works in Belgrade, but is forced to go back home in Veles. Then, he goes to Samobor near Zagreb, where 4000 copies of his poems are printed and distributed illegally. Unfortunately, the authorities seize all of them.