The story revolves around the life of Harvek Milos Krumpetzki, born in Poland in 1922. As a child, he begins to collect pieces of information he calls "fakts", which are presented throughout the film. At the outbreak of World War II, shortly after his parents' death in a house fire, he migrates to Australia as a refugee, settling in Spotswood, Victoria, and changing his name to Harvie Krumpet.