In 1981, a story was published that shocked Soviet readers, for the events described in it looked like real nonsense: young pioneers-Leninists spread rot to a new student. The author of the work is Vladimir Zheleznikov. “Scarecrow” (a brief summary is given below) - that’s what he called his story, the idea of which he took from life: similar events happened to his granddaughter. The work shocked the actor and director Rolan Bykov so much that already in 1983 the feature film of the same name that he shot was released on the screens of Soviet cinemas.
So, the summary of "Scarecrow." The action takes place in a small provincial town. His 12-year-old granddaughter Lena comes to the local eccentric old man Nikolai Nikolaevich Bessoltsev, who collects paintings. She enters a local school, absolutely sincerely hoping to make new friends here. But classmates almost immediately begin to mock her. They are amused by her spontaneity and naivety, combined with an awkward appearance: long, thin arms and legs, a large mouth with an eternal smile and two pigtails. Not having time to spend five minutes in the new class, she gets the nickname "Scarecrow." The summary of this story is not able to convey the negative emotions that a new classmate aroused in the students.
Only one boy did not laugh at her. It was Dima Somov, who enjoyed the authority of the whole class, as he was considered handsome and smart, and was also the son of wealthy parents. But Lena Bessoltseva is alien to any selfish thoughts. She just wants to be friends. Dima accepts her friendship and tries to protect her as much as possible from the attacks of her classmates. And when he saved the dog, which Valka’s classmate wanted to hand over to the flipper, he became a real hero for the girl. But soon the friendship cracked due to the act of Somov. He told the teacher that the whole class had escaped to the cinema. Lena heard this conversation, but she was firmly convinced that Dima confessed to classmates that it was because of him that now they all would not go on vacation to Moscow. But he did not admit, and the girl took his blame on herself. Two other classmates heard a conversation between Somov and the teacher, but chose to remain silent in order to see how he would get out. Lena, as a traitor, boycotted.
Once Valka the flayer ran into the courtyard of the house where Scarecrow lived (the summary is not able to convey all the details), and stole her dress from the clothesline. In addition, he saw Somov there. He chased after Valka to take away the dress. Lena ran after them and was at the dilapidated church, near which the whole class gathered. Boys and girls made a scarecrow out of straw (a brief summary does not allow us to describe the enormity of further action), put on a stolen dress and arranged for its burning. Bessoltseva rushes to the hot branch with the dress and, having untied it from the pillar, it disperses blasphemous classmates with it. She understands that everyone hates her for a betrayal that she did not commit, but continues to be silent.
Somova is issued by one of the classmates who heard his confession to the teacher, but
Lena doesn’t care. She wants to leave this town and persuades grandfather to let her go or go with her. Grandfather hesitates. For Somov’s birthday, Lena comes shaving her head, and in the very charred dress that was worn on a scarecrow. The summary will never convey all the emotions, so it would be better to read a book or watch a movie. The girl demonstratively fools around and with a made smile proclaims herself a scarecrow, a freak and a jerk. Classmates are shocked, but everyone suddenly deep down realizes that freak and insignificance are each of them. They leave Somov’s house, and the next day they are finally convinced that he is the traitor. They are ready to apologize to Lena, but it's too late: she is leaving. Her grandfather goes with her, but before leaving, he gives his house along with an invaluable collection of paintings as a gift to the city. He presented the school with a portrait of his grandmother. When the children saw the picture, they were stupefied: from an old portrait, more like an icon, a young woman looked exactly at them, exactly like Bessoltseva.