East Berlin, 1986: Teenagers Heiko and Tommy dream of living anywhere but the GDR. Tommy’s a daredevil who won’t take no for an answer, an attitude shy Heiko admires. Hanging out together, they’re up to all sorts of youthful pranks. Tommy is caught and sent to prison.

On his release he sports an SS tattoo on his arm. In jail, he joined a Nazi gang. Despite Heiko’s irritation, this doesn’t affect their friendship. Together they try to flee from the GDR, but are caught and sent to jail, finding themselves locked up with murderers, rapists and dangerous criminals. Due to his experience and his Nazi friends, Tommy soon finds his footing, but Heiko is less successful. Although he is mobbed, he tries to survive without Tommy’s help …