In 1929, the film follows the six-year old son of a Swedish country doctor. Åke lives with his parents and his sister Aja in a small provincial town. His best friend is Kalle Nubb. Åke is very frightened of the janitor Bergström as well as the lunatic Anne-Marie, his cousin who lives in the attic. There is also the strict principal Godeman as well as the religious cobbler Ebenholtz.