Young Maxim grows up under the czarist regime with his grandparents as guardians. Continually demeaned by his martinet grandfather, Maxim is drawn to his warm-hearted grandmother, who instills in him the willingness to pursue his writing muse.
Vasili Vasilyevich Kashirin
Varvara Kashirina Peshkova
Mikhail Kashirin, an uncle
Old Grigori
Vanya, aka 'Gypsy'
The Lodger
Aleksei Peshkov
Akulina Ivanva Kashirin