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Directed by Leoni Maryagain, The 101st Kilometer offers a peek into the director's own adolescence, which happened to peak in the summer after the death of Stalin, as well as a look at the aftermath of a community where living in fear had become a way of life. Seventeen-year-old Leonid (Piotr Fedorov) is one of the brightest students in his year, as well as traditionally handsome. The problem is rooted in his heritage--his father is a Jewish fundamentalist who has been mysteriously banished to a small town well outside of Moscow, as were throngs of other "undesirables". As a result, Leonid's fellow students and even his teacher treat him suspiciously. This lack of fellowship leads Leonid under the wing of a mafia thug, who puts him to work stealing from local warehouses. Though he's surprisingly good, Leonid's true interest lies in Rita (Glafira Sotnikova), a beautiful girl who lives in one of the roughest areas of town. Unfortunately, Rita's parents will not allow Leonid to spend time with their daughter, driving the young man deeper into crime.