Kazchen is an 8 year-old boy of German origins, wants nothing more than to find his real father. After his mother dies, Kazchen moves in with his Aunt,but it quickly becomes apparent that she and his uncle cannot take care of him and he is sent to a kibbutz.  Kazchen runs away and encounters the outside world for the first time. However, after he is finally caught he learns that his uncle committed suicide and his aunt has left for Vienna. Kazchen, afraid he’ll be returned to the kibbutz, persuades the officer to take him to his father. The union between the two seems harmonic, until it becomes apparent that Ernst, Kazchen’s father, is demented, and a tragic reversal of roles occurs between the sick father and his son, who has matured during his journey.