Fifteen years after the birth of his son and the subsequent abandonment of his child, appliance repairman Gianni (Kim Rossi Stuart) faces up to his responsibilities.

Boarding a train at Milan, Gianni meets his disabled son Paolo (Andrea Rossi) for the first time and takes charge of the teenager as they head for Berlin where the youngster is due to undergo physical therapy.

At first, Gianni feels awkward and unprepared around Paolo and isn't sure how to control the boy's fluctuations in mood. However, the father's guilt and insecurities soon fade and Gianni and Paolo develop an indestructible bond that is severely tested when the boy decides to wander off on his own in the big city.