Not many movies are made about WW2 that revolve around Russia's point of view, although this movie doesn't really focus much on the war itsself than it does the casualties of war and collateral damage.
Lem is an orphan who is captured by soldiers and put into an orphanage where he and many other orphans are being brainwashed to follow Communism. Being the new kid in the orphanage, he's forced to learn all of the routines that all the other kids already know.
After being there for some time, a new kid arrives by the name of Isak Keyten.
Now all of a sudden Lem doesn't feel so alone and tries his best to befriend the older boy.
The only way he could eventually befriend the boy was to ask the Commander in charge of the orphanage what happened to Isak's girl friend, who had been in the orphanage prior to Isak's arrival.
This movie does a beautiful job of showing how innocence can be lost rather quickly when children are forced to grow up fast in a hostile environment.