When I Will Become a Giant (1979) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Most of the film takes place inside a Russian secondary school and the surrounding neighborhood. Key locations include classrooms, the school stage, and nearby balconies where the Cyrano-like rivalry and Petya's secret admiration for Masha play out. The setting emphasizes everyday school life where conversations and misunderstandings shape relationships.

• russian school
• secondary school
• setting
• neighborhood

The movie explores three central themes: Love, as Petya secretly helps Masha win Kristallov's heart while concealing his own feelings; Rivalry between Petya and classmate Fedya Lastochkin, who compete for recognition and Masha's affection; and Poetry, which serves as both a vehicle for deception and a means of revealing true character. The story ultimately argues that genuine love is measured by honesty and integrity rather than grand gestures.

• themes
• love
• rivalry
• poetry
• characters

Petya is an eighth-grader who is slight and unremarkable in appearance but possesses a noble, witty personality and talent as a poet. He is insecure about his short stature and eager to be noticed. Secretly in love with his classmate Masha Goroshkina, he chooses to help her win the affection of the new student Kristallov rather than compete directly, demonstrating courage and honor similar to Cyrano de Bergerac.

• petya kopeikin
• main character
• eighth grader
• poet

Masha is Petya's neighbor and the object of his affection. She is drawn to poetry and the romantic idea of a Renaissance man. Initially infatuated with the new student Kolya Kristallov, she is charmed by the poetic gestures she believes come from him. Ultimately, she discovers the truth behind the poems and recognizes Petya's genuine devotion.

• masha goroshkina
• love interest
• character

Kolya is a newcomer in the ninth grade who presents himself as a poet and Renaissance man, also claiming to be a basketball player. He becomes the target of both Petya's and Lastochkin's schemes. His somewhat hollow persona is exposed by the contrast with Petya's sincere nature and genuine emotional depth.

• kolya kristallov
• new student
• character

Fedya Lastochkin is Petya's confident classmate who relishes rivalry and uses scheming to challenge Petya. He exploits the Cyrano-like situation by revealing Petya's feelings to Kristallov, hoping to complicate the love triangle and assert his own dominance. His character represents ego and manipulation versus Petya's authenticity.

• fedya lastochkin
• rival
• antagonist

Poetry serves as both a bridge and a mask throughout the narrative. Petya writes verses that he passes off as Kristallov's own work, hoping to spark Masha's interest in him indirectly. However, the poems ultimately reveal Petya's inner truth and sincere devotion. When Masha overhears the confrontation about the poems' authorship, she discerns the real author's character, showing how art can expose genuine feeling more than appearances.

• poetry
• poems
• creative expression

Yes, the film draws direct inspiration from Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac. Petya's situation mirrors the classic tale: a man with poetic talent helps a rival win the woman he loves by writing words for someone else to deliver. The story explores whether courage and honor, like those of the historical Cyrano, still exist in modern adolescent life.

• cyrano de bergerac
• inspiration
• play
• adaptation

The film has a hopeful tone despite dealing with the painful realities of adolescent insecurity and unrequited affection. The ending is distinctly happy: Masha discovers the truth behind the poems and recognizes Petya's genuine love and integrity. This creates a satisfying resolution where personal virtue and sincerity triumph over superficial charm and manipulation.

• tone
• ending
• happy resolution
• hope

The Literature Teacher serves as a school authority figure who guides the class through the Cyrano-like scenario. He frames Petya as a troublemaker and oversees the school performances that parallel the romantic rivalry. The teacher embodies the institutional perspective on classroom behavior and academic performance.

• literature teacher
• authority figure
• school