Difficult trials endured by ten-year-old hero of the film Vaska Kadnikova. But it didn't break, it resisted. Because — strong roots, Russian character. This is especially important today. We all must resist, we who speak and think in Russian, pity and love Russia, above all its children.

Overweight Dasha works as a proof-reader for a glossy magazine. Commonsense and previous experience have taught her not to harbour any illusions concerning a happy private life. So instead, she finds solace in detective novels, television and cakes, which she consumes in large quantities. However, when two men appear almost simultaneously, her life is turned upside down. The first is Stas, her tall and handsome new neighbour. Dasha is smitten but is aware that he will never return her love. The other 'man' is Vanka, her eight-year old nephew, whom she has agreed to look after while his mother is away in a resort town looking for a looking to land herself a good catch. Living with Vanka is a lesson in survival. Unable to spend even an hour without performing a prank or joke, Vanka turns his aunt's home into a death trap, and Dasha is either chasing after him or dealing with the consequences.

9-year-old boy complains about his hard life in a letter to his grandfather.

Based on Chekhov's Christmas story "Vanka".