The film is based on the eponymous book, written by two former street gangsters - Grigori Belykh and Leonid Panteleyev. Film is set in the 1920s St. Petersburg, Russia. Streets of the city are full of the homeless boys. They are caught to be raised and educated at the correction school named after Dostoevsky. The boys are street smart and difficult. But the faculty stands up to the challenge. The teaches are being devoted and caring, and gradually win the respect of the most difficult kids. The school director Vicknixor is a refined intellectual, who becomes a role model for the boys.
Сергей Юрский
as Vicknixor
Юлия Бурыгина
as Elanlyum
Павел Луспекаев
as Kostalmed
Вера Титова
as Marta
Lev Vajnshtejn
as Yankel
Виктор Перевалов
as Goga
Александр Кавалеров
as Kostya Fedotov (segment "Mamochka")
Юрий Рычков
as Kupa Kupych Genialniy (as Yura Rychkov)
Николай Годовиков
as
Анатолий Подшивалов
as Tsygan (as Tolya Podshivalov)
Александр Мельников
as Alnikpop
Анатолий Столбов
as Palvan
