XVIII century. In the town square of Lviv, Ukrainian city under the Austrian yoke, there is a trade in humans. This displeases Cossacks led by student Maxim Zaruba, for which the rioters arrested. Showing ingenuity and resourcefulness, heroes seize the ship, attacking the fortress and freed slaves.
13-year-old boy Ivan loses all loved ones to World War II. His father was killed, and his mother died during the bombing. Ivan has to survive, relying only on his own strength. He is evacuated to the Urals, settles in a factory and even finds the opportunity to help strangers.
At the end of the Second World War, Fedor is demobilized and returns home where he meets a homeless boy, small Fedor. They decide to live together. The adult works in the building trade and the boy goes to school and looks after the house. They get on very well until Natacha arrives in big Fedor's life. After marrying big Fedor, Natacha tries to win the child's love. But he remains hostile.
