Three petty criminals busy themselves with illegal producing of alcohol (such homemade brewage is called "samogon" in russian, hence the name of this short movie). everything goes well, until their dog carries away part of bootlegging device.

Timid old woman Pelageya Nilovna observes the revolutionary activities of her son Pavel Vlasov and gradually comes to realize that his cause is a great and noble one. She involves herself in the movement and finds joy and great courage in her new life as a revolutionary. Based on Gorky's novel, filmed in the silent era by Pudovkin.