Jörn lives with his brother Thomas at his grandparents', his mother died in an accident and his father works abroad. Jörn misses his mother, whom his grandparents are unable to replace despite their loving care. He lives in a world of his own, at home he writes poetry, but at school he and his gang pull the strings. He seeks out risk and flirts with death. He meets Jil on a daring climbing tour and is magically drawn to her resemblance to his deceased mother. With charm and perseverance, he woos Jil, who makes no secret of the fact that she is living with another man. Jörn, who discovers love, withdraws from the group, barely noticing what is happening around him. Meanwhile, the events at school intensify and he comes under suspicion of having been involved in night-time attacks. The situation comes to a dramatic head when he receives a letter from his father on his birthday, enclosing his mother's farewell letter...