In the Soviet Union, musician Vladimir Ivanoff plays saxophone for the Moscow circus and is devoted to his family and friends, particularly his rascally grandfather. Meanwhile, Vladimir tolerates communist bureaucracy by waiting in long lines for toilet paper, sharing a crowded one-bedroom apartment, and placating KGB secret service agents. Before the circus troupe’s tour to New York City, Vladimir and his circus clown friend, Anatoly, practice speaking English. The outspoken Anatoly confides that he hates his life and wants to defect. Although Vladimir adores American jazz music, he claims he is content in the Soviet Union and warns his friend to be careful. Arriving in Manhattan, Vladimir is amazed by the diversity of people, the street musicians, and the colorful signage. Anatoly still plans to defect, but when an opportunity arises while shopping at Bloomingdale’s department store, he loses his nerve. Vladimir, however, makes a spontaneous decision and flees from his KGB handler, Boris. At Bloomingdale’s, he is befriended by Lucia Lombardo, a beautiful cosmetic clerk, and a security guard named Lionel Witherspoon, who invites the Russian to stay at his Harlem apartment. Although Vladimir has gained freedom, he left his saxophone on the tour bus and is unable to work as a musician. He encounters circumstances similar to those in Moscow, as he faces a bureaucratic immigration process and lives in a small apartment with Lionel’s family. In the meantime, he works a series of jobs as a dishwasher, hot dog vendor, taxicab driver, and chauffeur, while seeking advice from Cuban-American immigration attorney, Orlando Ramirez. He also begins a romance with Lucia, an Italian immigrant who aspires to be a sportscaster and is studying for her citizenship exam. After a while, Vladimir is able to afford a new saxophone and his own studio apartment in the East Village. During a party to celebrate Lucia becoming a U.S. citizen, Vladimir asks her to move in with him. However, she is unsure if she is ready for a serious relationship and rejects his offer. After the couple quarrels, Lionel takes Vladimir to a jazz club where he encourages the Russian to meet other women and arranges for him to play saxophone with the house band that night. Vladimir is disappointed in his performance and throws his saxophone in the trash, but Lionel retrieves the instrument and reminds Vladimir that white men cannot expect to play “soul” music in a few months. As Lucia continues to ignore him, Vladimir receives news that his beloved grandfather has passed away. Homesick and grieving, he visits a Russian nightclub, becomes intoxicated, and dances with his fellow countrymen. Returning to his apartment building, Vladimir is mugged in the hallway and expresses anger about America’s so-called “freedom.” Orlando Ramirez takes Vladimir to a diner where a fellow Russian and other immigrants remind him about the rights given to all human beings in the Declaration of Independence. Vladimir begins to feel more hopeful and arrives home to find Lucia waiting for him. The couple reconciles when Lucia declares that she misses him and would be proud to live with a fellow immigrant. The next time Vladimir writes to his Russian family, he mourns the death of his grandfather, but also shares the good news that he finally got a job playing saxophone at a nightclub. One day, he encounters his former KGB handler, Boris, who now works as a hot dog vendor. Boris could not go back to the Soviet Union after failing to prevent Vladimir’s defection and thanks him for giving him the opportunity to stay in the U.S.