This story, based on the frightening tale of ETA Hoffmann "The Sandman", a happy ending! And Delibes' music is not as gloomy as the original, it sets the ballet a cheerful tone. And yet the heroes of this action will have to go through considerable trials in order to see how the living feeling differs from the soulless behind the beautiful wrapper ...

Franz has a lover, but he turned away from her: he was beckoned to the dream of a beautiful stranger. Who is she? It seems that she is perfection ... Franz did not see that he fell in love ... with a doll!

However, Swanilde, his true love, will certainly come to the rescue and help Franz see who (or rather, what he is talking about is a doll), he got carried away. Then the young man will understand how dear to him Svanilda, so beautiful, true and ... alive! ..