When I Will Become a Giant 1979

Petya Kopeikin, Mikhail Efremov, a self-proclaimed troublemaker in his eighth grade, disrupts the school play Cyrano de Bergerac because of his dislike for his classmate Fedya Lastochkin, Andrey Vasilyev, who has been cast as Cyrano. This act sparks a Cyrano-like rivalry between Petya and Lastochkin, turning a simple school outcome into a clash of pride, wit, and moments of vulnerability.

Petya is an unassuming boy who, despite his short stature, tends to be at the center of attention. He hides a secret crush on Masha Goroshkina, Natalya Sezeman, while Masha herself is drawn to Koly Kristallov, a mediocre newcomer in the ninth grade, Aleksei Dmitriyev. In a bid to help Masha realize her feelings, Petya acts as a go-between, delivering notes from Masha to Kristallov. He even crafts verses for Kristallov to pass off as his own, choosing to be the quiet, self-effacing facilitator rather than the star of the moment.

Fedya Lastochkin seizes the opportunity to strike back, revealing Petya’s tender feelings for Masha to Kristallov. This intrusion jolts the fragile dynamic between the two boys and gives Kristallov leverage to confront Petya directly. With a blunt tone, Kristallov tells Petya that he is not someone Masha could genuinely like, a line that stings because it doubts Petya’s sincerity and presence in the girl’s world.

Neighbors by proximity—Petya and Masha share balconies that are close enough to overhear—means that Masha witnesses the confrontation from a nearby vantage point. This closeness becomes a crucial backdrop for the revelation that follows. When the exchange plays out in hearing distance, Masha begins to piece together who authored the poems and who truly has the heart behind the lines.

In the end, Masha’s understanding deepens: she sees Petya’s genuine affection and his noble, if understated, actions. She also recognizes Kristallov for what he really is—a hollow figure who lacks the depth she hoped to discover. The moment reframes the entire budding love triangle, shifting the focus from theater mischief to a clearer portrait of honesty, integrity, and the quiet courage of wanting the best for someone else. The story lingers on the emotional growth of a boy who chooses to act with integrity, even when it complicates the social dynamics around him, and on a girl who learns to value sincerity over appearance.