Udo is invisible - no one ever seems to notice him. He makes the most of it, working as a department store detective and living off other people's lives as they never notice him tagging along. Until he meets the one woman who sees him.

Eine Insel namens Udo

Up until the middle of the 19Th century, poverty stricken mountain farmers from the Ticino area of Switzerland frequently sold their children to Milan as chimney sweeps or spazzacamini. That is also young Giorgios fate. He is forced to climb through pitch black chimneys, flinging down the soot with his bare hands. But he does not lose heart. Together with his buddies sharing in the same misery, he establishes the association of Black Brothers. They stick together, struggling against their penury and getting involved in fights with the street gangs of Milan. The film tells of the gripping adventures of the chimney sweep boys and their spectacular escape back to their native land.

The Black Brothers

Maria Nikolai was once a celebrated musician. 20 years ago she came to Hamburg with her husband, who has since died. But her neighborhood, which used to be a neighborly neighborhood, is gradually threatening to turn into a social hotspot: the streets are dirty, young people are killing time in front of the supermarket and alcohol is a constant companion for many. Foreigners have also been increasingly moving to the district for some time.