The congenial Vojta is bashful and his family is batty. His short-tempered father, who once failed to swim the English Channel, wants him to be a competing swimmer and his loving mother, a former child ice revue star, sees a talented pianist in her son. But Vojta has completely different priorities - most of all his red-haired classmate Ela, an enchanting synchronised swimmer who is leaving for Paris in November. If Vojta doesn't do something radical, and fast, Ela will disappear behind the iron curtain forever. The year is 1989.