Nono plot
Whenever the school children sing the national anthem, eight-year-old Toto is asked to keep quiet. He has a split lip and his mutilated voice makes everyone laugh. But this boy from the slums is a fighter and not easily discouraged. His buddy is a little boy who is hard of hearing and when the two go out together, not even the powerhouse next door dares to bother them. Toto's mother can't really take care of her son. She has too much on her mind to care for her husband. She dreams of going to Japan and working as a geisha. But when push comes to shove, Toto can always count on his warm-hearted mother. She even supports his somewhat ridiculous plan to enter a public speaking contest.