After ending up in an orphanage, Olavi sets out to find his mother. While playing the violin on the street, his exceptional talent catches the attention of a music school professor, who takes him under his wing.

Unemployed Anna leaves her son Olavi to be raised by Antti, a shoemaker. When the shoemaker dies, Olavi is sent to an orphanage, from which he runs away with a cat and a violin under his arm. After many misfortunes, the talented Olavi becomes a student of a professor at a music academy and travels to London to compete in an international violin competition.