Foma Gordeyev on AllMovie

This Russian melodrama, set in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the century, follows the exploits of a wealthy grain merchant who wants to have his son join the family business. When the father dies during a drunken bout, his partner endeavors to teach the trade to the son. Unfortunately, the lad is not interested in capitalism and sees the world of business as filled with hypocrisy. Instead of settling down with the partner's lovely daughter, the rebellious lad chooses to move from lover to lover. As he wanders through his daily life becoming increasingly disillusioned, he becomes so out of control that the local businessmen throw him into an insane asylum. Much time passes before he is allowed to be released. Once out, the boy leads a pauper's life at the flophouse created with his father's money.