The harrowing journey of a young boy unfolds against the backdrop of World War II, where survival becomes a test of resilience and endurance. This six-year-old, sent away by his parents to save him from Nazi terror, finds himself alone amidst hostile villages. Misunderstood and mistreated due to his appearance, he must navigate a world of brutality and ignorance.

Beginnings of Suffering

Initially, the boy finds shelter with Marta, an elderly woman steeped in superstition. Her death leaves him alone once more, and an accidental fire results in the destruction of her home. The villagers, quick to anger, nearly kill him, but he is saved by Olga, known as "the Wise," who uses her folk medicine to heal. However, this refuge is brief, as he is once again plunged into chaos, swept downriver by villagers intent on doing him harm.

Witnessing Atrocities

After his escape, the boy finds himself with a miller and his wife, only to witness extreme cruelty. Consumed by jealousy, the miller blinds a young farmhand in a fit of rage. Terrified, the boy flees, finding temporary solace with Lekh, a bird trapper in love with a woman named Ludmila. The violent death of Ludmila at the hands of villagers shatters this brief respite, forcing the boy to move on in search of safety.

Enduring Exploitation

The boy's journey leads him to a carpenter and his wife, fearful that his dark features might attract lightning. In the midst of storms, he is chained outside as a precaution. When the carpenter's threats escalate, the boy desperately leads him to an abandoned bunker, ensuring his own survival. The cycle of violence continues, and his next stop is with a blacksmith involved with partisan activities, but tragedy strikes once more when the blacksmith is killed, leaving the boy at the mercy of German soldiers. Escape becomes his only option when an unexpected act of mercy grants him another chance at life.

Haunted by Horror

The boy's ordeal intensifies as he witnesses the horrors of war firsthand. Living with a farmer, he observes the grim procession of trains carrying Jews to their deaths. A Jewish girl’s brutal fate unfolds before his eyes, a haunting scene that reinforces the relentless inhumanity surrounding him. Captured during a village raid, he is handed over to a sadistic farmer named Garbos, who devises cruel methods of torment involving a vicious dog named Judas. The boy’s spirit is further crushed when he's thrown into a manure pit by an enraged congregation, leaving him mute from the trauma.

Enduring Cruelty and Finding Respite

Another phase of suffering begins with the cruel farmer Makar and his family. The farmer's daughter, Ewka, introduces him to the complexities of human relationships, only for him to reject her love after witnessing depraved acts forced upon her by her father. Fleeing once more, he is temporarily saved by Labina, but her death signifies the return of chaos. The boy finds himself amidst the horrors inflicted by Kalmuks, Soviet deserters allied with the Germans, who ravage a village in their path. For the first time, the boy experiences the semblance of safety when the advancing Soviet army liberates the village, taking him under their wing as a mascot.

War and Aftermath

With the end of the war, the boy must part with the Soviet soldiers who have become his protectors and adapt to life in an orphanage within the city he once fled. Years pass, and the city still bears the scars of conflict, just as he bears the emotional scars of his journey. His friendship with another orphan, known as the Silent...