Forever 16

Somewhere in Manila, a crime boss rules with an iron fist. To his most loyal henchman he gives the task of guarding his woman. Before long, she falls in love with the henchman, and the star-crossed lovers decide to leave town. Fighting ensues. It is while on the run that they finally get to know each other for the first time.

Ari and Oona go to the same school. Lolita-like Ari, is blonde, pouting and lives in a world of bright colours, frustrated by her mother still treating her as a child, while arty Oona dresses in black and is treated as an adult by her artist father. When Oona’s father commits suicide after his wife has an affair with his brother Lukas, Oona starts to self-harm, but finds and unlikely friendship with Ari. Ari’s enthusiasm for exerting her sexuality rebounds when she starts an affair with Oona’s uncle, who has recently moved in with Oona’s mother.

Only the others have fun: In the Hamburg social drama, a teenager experiences the cold side of the neighbourhood. Hunger drives Leon (Albert Lichtenstern) onto the street. His mother has once again not taken care of him and is somewhere. To get money and food, the 15-year-old steals everything that is not nailed down. He finds small odd jobs in the run-down "Palaise Cherie" brothel, which has become a place to go for him. His fatherly friend Klaus (Detlev Dorendorf), the "Koberer", sits on his stool day and night and tries to guide passers-by into the shop. And then there is a prostitute to whom Leon feels attracted. As always, the boy somehow gets through the day - but this time he has to realise that his mother is not coming back to him.