An account of the Siege of Leningrad reveals the role played by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his Leningrad Symphony in rallying and commemorating their fellow citizens.

Part One. The death of yesterday -- The birth of tomorrow -- Life is getting merrier -- Part Two. Friendship -- Barbarossa ; The approach -- The first movement -- The second movement -- The third movement -- Fables, stories -- Flight ; Railway car no. 7 -- Kuibyshev and Leningrad -- An optimistic Shostakovich -- The city of the dead -- My music is my weapon -- The road of life -- Symphony for the city of the dead -- Part Three. Cold war and thaw.