A reflection, apparently, of the initial period of the history of Soviet pioneering, when the pioneers were not yet standardized by strict discipline behind the fences of the pioneer camps under the strict control of the pioneer guides, and uncontrollably explored the accessible territory in the vicinity of the places of their summer deployment, along the way showing an active social position. In the 70s, the film, like the novella of the same name by A. Rybakov, was a coveted spiritual food of middle school age.
Very well-educated pioneer actors, literary speaking strictly in turn, to the best of their abilities depict adventurers. A deliberately sinister figure - class alien, at first glance clear - of the old lonely guard of the estate (in the post-revolutionary brigandish deafness) with half a ton of non-ferrous metal in sight, disguised as a sculpture of a bird on a pedestal. Colorful Senka Erofeev, kulak brat. Well done is a funny episode with a maximalist anarchist explaining the principles of his ideology. A notable mound, ancient or not, was clearly waiting for it to be excavated - finding, at last, treasure - by savvy pioneers.
Overall, the film looks long and sad.
