[4] Veniamin Yuzhin, nicknamed Vĕnia, is a high school teenager in suburban Russia going through troublesome emotional setbacks following the harsh divorce of his parents and the subsequent disappearance of his father.

Venia turns to reading the Bible selectively and intensely in seeking guidance and solace in response to his changed family circumstances.

In one instance, after seeing his female classmates wearing bikinis in physical education class, Venia goes on a tirade by loud, obtrusive reading of his favorite Biblical passages on chastity and continence.

Later in the week, Venia takes exception to his high school biology teacher as she is demonstrating to the class the responsible use of condoms for safe sex.

During the conference, Venia suddenly and falsely accuses the biology teacher of causing him to disrobe while alone with her in her classroom while she groped his bare legs and male organs.

At the same time, a report is made to one of the other faculty members from the local police that the body of one of the other students at the school has been found by the lake dead from a mortal head injury.

She marches back to her classroom, nails her shoes to the floor, and vocally vows that she will not leave regardless of the false complaint, as she defiantly considers herself to be without fault and blameless of the accusations which have been made against her as the film ends.

The website's critical consensus states, "As visually arresting as it is thought-provoking, The Student takes a fearlessly confrontational approach to difficult themes -- and proves richly rewarding in its execution".