It tells the story of a sexual relationship between a teacher and her 15-year-old student in Malmö, Sweden during World War II.

Widerberg's son Johan stars as the boy Stig and Marika Lagercrantz plays his teacher Viola.

The original title is taken from the Swedish hymn "Den blomstertid nu kommer", which is traditionally sung in schools before closing for the summer holiday.

Meanwhile, Stig's neighbor and classmate Lisbet takes a liking to him and tries to learn the Stockholm dialect via radio to get his attention.

Sigge sends Stig letters from aboard the submarine Ulven written in a special code between the two siblings.

Kjell confesses his marital problems with Viola stem from his own infidelity shortly after their wedding, with the relationship not improving thereafter.

Kjell's friendship with Stig continues, but his alcoholism becomes more apparent to the boy and he starts to question his relationship with Viola.

Later, he tries to make amends to Lisbet and sneaks into the girls' locker room at school, hiding inside a vault.

She believes his school performance has been hampered by working late nights at the cinema and because of the strain of Sigge's military service.

The film ends with Stig exiting the school, carrying all the dictionaries he has stolen from Viola's desk with him in a suitcase.

[4] Critic Adrian Martin wrote of the film, "…this is a solely male rite-of-passage tale, in which Stig's acquisition of knowledge and experience occurs at the expense of the woman who charitably helps him get there.

When Stig's jilted and outraged young girlfriend Lisbet (Karin Huldt) flees in a huff, I found myself applauding her good sense – but I also wished she would return to the movie and even up the gender score a little".