Vera Kasatkina, in her youth, experienced an emotional trauma: her husband left her and their child. She is 27 years old and has long given up on the idea of personal happiness. When she meets Volodya Chizhov, who is younger than her, she sincerely offers to help him prepare for his university entrance exams. Deep feelings begin to develop between them. Vera's mother is adamantly against this relationship, and Vera's colleagues have already figured it out and are making fun of her. Volodya, an open and persistent young man, tactfully takes the initiative — he helps Vera overcome her fears and find happiness.

1920年代，苏联逐渐从革命和内战中恢复过来，但全国共有近4百万流浪青少年徘徊街头，给社会治安带来很大影响。于是契卡决定在各地建立专门学校，改造这些流浪儿童，帮助他们重新融入社会。彼得格勒的“陀思妥耶夫斯基公社学校”（“陀校”）就是一所这样的机构。然而被送进来的学生却都负隅顽抗，在学校制造各种事端。校长维克托·尼古拉耶维奇·索罗金（“维尼索”）却决定不和他们硬碰硬，而是顺势而为，春风化雨。于是，学员们成立了“陀校共和国”，准备放手大干一场……