In the winter of 1945/46, new teacher Hadubrant is tricked by Olly, the 14-year-old daughter of his landlady, into stealing a wild boar. It has fallen into Olly's trap, but as game is the property of the Soviet army, Hadubrant wants to put it to good use: school meals. But others in the village are also interested in the pig. The mayor wants it to fulfill his meat plan, the priest wants to swap it for coal to heat his church, the policeman wants to return it to its rightful owner, and some simply want to eat it. The pig keeps disappearing in mysterious ways. Hadubrant's commitment to his charitable cause finally earns him a delegation to the district town for "higher duties".