A boy named Volka discovers an ancient vessel on the bottom of a river. When he opens it, a genie emerges from there. He calls himself Hassan Abdurrahman ibn Khottab, or in Russian style Khottabych. Grateful Khottabych is ready to fulfill any of Volka's wishes. But it appears that Volka should use the powers of the genie carefully, for they can have undesirable results.

A performance by the Leningrad Bolshoi Drama Theater named after M. Gorky.

Nurdin is a man who failed to protect friendship and love, who retreated before deceit and hypocrisy. The benevolent viewer is personified by the Old Man, a character who seems to stand outside the plot. Nurdin tells the Old Man about his life.

Andrei Krutikov was the first child born in the settlement of the hydroelectric station workers. The residents of the settlement named a street after him. Years passed, and the young city grew. Andrei grew up to be a mischievous, lying, and wild storyteller. But then a new boy, Borya Skalov, appeared in his class. Unintentionally, Andrei started to imitate the serious and responsible Boris, and he didn't even notice how his life began to change.