Sofia is a middle-aged widow living in Leningrad. Following the death of her husband, a respected doctor, she learns to type and secures a position at a major publishing house. She loves her work, appreciates the rigid structure of her job, and strongly believes in the righteousness of the Soviet system. Her primary focus is providing for her son and maintaining a respectable, elegant appearance despite her reduced living circumstances.

Kolya is a handsome, studious young man pursuing an engineering degree. He perfectly fits the state's ideal of a dedicated citizen, abstaining from drinking and smoking while focusing entirely on manufacturing innovations and party loyalty. He takes a strict, unsympathetic line on ideological matters, believing firmly in class justice.

Natasha is a pallid, modest 24-year-old typist whose background continually obstructs her future. Because her father fought against the Bolsheviks in the White Army, she is repeatedly denied entry into the Komsomol communist youth group. She frequently visits Sofia's apartment to embroider and read foreign novels.

Alik is a loyal friend from a family of impoverished bookbinders. Raised by his aunt, he wears patched clothes and has a slight, puny build that contrasts with his strong-willed personality. He travels to an engineering college in Sverdlovsk with Kolya and fiercely defends his friends against political and social insults.

Zakharov is the director of the publishing house. He rose from a background as a laborer into the ranks of the Soviet Party system. He commands deep respect from his staff and focuses heavily on pushing patriotic propaganda to combat fascism abroad.

Timofeyev is the Communist Party secretary stationed at the publishing house. He has an unkempt appearance that earns him quiet disdain from neat colleagues. He frequently bypasses official channels to grant special typing assignments to favored employees.

Erna is a barely literate junior typist who frequently shirks her duties. She uses her connection with the party secretary to type confidential documents, an assignment that feeds her ego and protects her from disciplinary action regarding her sloppy work.

Anna chairs the local publisher's union, known as Mestkom. She dresses in expensive, revealing clothes and keeps a superficially tidy appearance. She carefully manages office politics, locking doors during mandatory meetings to ensure attendance and quickly adapting to political shifts.

Mrs. Degtyarenko is one of the neighbors assigned to live in Sofia's divided communal apartment. While she maintains a generally friendly disposition, her messy habits in the shared living spaces frequently irritate Sofia.

An unnamed nurse living in the communal apartment. She clings to the trappings of a past gentry life and treats her neighbors with suspicion and open hostility, frequently complaining about shared resources like kerosene.

The teenage daughter of the nurse who shares the communal apartment. Her loud laughter and carefree behavior contrast with the tense atmosphere in the building.

An honest, respected doctor who socialized with Sofia's family before the Revolution. He serves as Kolya's godfather and represents the stable, professional class of Leningrad.

The wife of Dr. Kiparisov. Once an elegant woman, the stress of political crackdowns rapidly ages her into a cautious figure who wears practical felt boots and carries a cane.

The wife of the publishing house director. Accustomed to a comfortable life with her husband and young daughter, she finds herself suddenly thrust into chaotic bureaucratic lines when political turmoil hits her family.

An old-regime classmate of Kolya and Alik. He uses an antisemitic slur against Alik, prompting Kolya to organize a student-led mock trial against him to exact justice.

A prosecutor handling political cases. He is an unshaven, hairy man with a spinal deformity who processes files with callous indifference, slamming empty drawers and barking information.

An elevator operator at the publishing house. She uses public meetings to air petty personal grievances against higher-ranking secretaries, claiming power as a worker in the new Soviet system.

The personal secretary to Zakharov. She becomes the target of complaints from lower-level staff members regarding her muddy shoes and frequent use of the building's elevator.

A friendly accountant at the publishing house who was previously acquainted with Sofia's late husband. He passes along rumors and news about arrests happening around Leningrad.

A French teacher and former member of the bourgeoisie who grew up with Sofia. She represents Sofia's early, naive attempts to rationalize the sudden disappearance of ordinary citizens.