This Russian film is the story of a small boy Vanya (Spiridonov) who is to be adopted (for a price) from an orphanage by an Italian couple. The orphanage is a harsh place with the headmaster (Yuri Itskov) and the adoption broker known only as Madam (Kuznetsova). The orphanage is, in reality, run by a teenage gang operating from the boiler room and led by Kolyan (Moiseenko).

At first Vanya is quite excited to be being adopted - he is to have a happy life in sunny Italy and all those around him say he should be over the moon. Vanya sees the distressed mother of a previously adopted orphan wanting her child back and then decides to search for his own mother. First he learns to read with the help of an older girl, gains access to his own file at the orphanage and finds out where to start his journey "home". Fearing they will lose a lucrative adoption deal Madam and the headmaster pursue him throughout his journey.

The Italian is compelling viewing, showing everyday life in the orphanage and the streets of Russia meeting both helpful and dangerous people. When all is said and done, whether Vanya is a brave soul or just a dumb kid is up to the viewer to decide.