Julianisa12-year-oldboywhosefamilyisjustscrapingbyintheRuhrindustrialregionofGermanyintheearly1960s.Whenhismotherandyoungersistergoawayforawhile,heisleftmostlyaloneintheapartmentwhilehisfatherworksinthecoalmine.Hehastoconfronttheconfusingworldofadultsandolderboysandtheoldergirlnextdooronhisown.Finallyeventsbuildupandthreatentotearthefamilyapart.