The twelve-year-old Emil and his father are haunted by bad luck. To take a break from a series of family disasters, Emil is allowed to spend a few days with a friend of the family, the female priest Hummel in Berlin. In the train he runs across the slick Max Grundeis who anaesthetizes Emil and steals his savings of 1500 DM. When he finally arrives in Berlin, Emil and a gang of street kids, led by the cheeky girl Pony Hütchen, try to find the gangster, who haunts the posh Hotel Adlon as a hotel thief. Meanwhile, to prevent anyone from finding out about Emil's mishap, Gypsi, a member of the gang of kids, passes himself off as Emil, thus wreaking havoc on the home of the priest.

A player in a famous orchestra finds sexual experiences with a Russian opera singer, which he enjoys much because his wife has just left due to the fact that he has purchased a porno movie. The orchestra player gets known to his neighbour, a gay man having also relationship troubles, and together they are trying hard to find a way how to go on with their lifes.

In contrast to his successful brother Ernst (Heino Ferch), Robby (Sebastian Koch) dropped out of teacher training early and ekes out a living as a taxi driver. When Ernst emigrates to New Zealand to find love, Robby spontaneously takes on his brother's trainee position.

Marine Ringo deserts in Hamburg when he finds his girlfriend with rival Eggers. Squatting with friend Yusuf, he uncovers Eggers’s shady land deals.