J□lian is a□□□-year-old □oy whose f□mi□y is just□scraping b□ in□□he Ruhr indu□tri□l region□□f Germa□y □n □he earl□ 1960s . Wh□n h□s mother an□ you□ger si□ter go away□f□r a□whil□, h□ i□ □eft mostly alone in t□e apartment while his fat□er □□rks □n □he coa□ □ine. He h□s to co□f□ont the confusing□□or□□ of□a□ults and older boys □nd the□o□de□□□ir□ next door o□ h□□ own. Fin□lly□events □uild□u□ and th□eaten t□ te□r□th□ fa□□ly apart.