THE STORY

The Berlin based business tycoon MANNI BECKS (Ben Becker) believes that he is reaching the next peak in his career, when PaulKutzow (Helmut Berger), his father-in-law and former business partner, is signing over his company to him.

But Manni's megalomaniacal hunger to expand triggers a fatefulchain reaction: Kutzow knows that it was Manni himself who ruined him - Manni, who got to power and glory with the marriage to his daughter LILI (Natalia Avelon). After a last toast on Manni's success Paul Kutzow commits suicide.

At his funeral drug addicted son HEIKO (Vinzenz Kiefer) furiously accuses Manni Becks calling him responsible for the death of his father. He slanders Becks in public, initiating a frantic media battle by describing him as a highly dubious dazzler with questionable business practices.

Manni Becks though, "the definition of a successful businessman" with connections to politics and police, can't afford any negative headlines. Bad press is bad for Becks, whose dubious business model is only functioning with a consistent cash flow provided for by respectable banking houses. Whereas his books show leasing deals for 150 heavy trucks cruising the streets of the European Union, in reality not more than two dozen vehicles roll in Germany and Poland, where ManniBecks lets operate another shady business by a polish associate.

Reasons enough to fear damages to his reputation and investigations within his company Mannitex.

Unexpectedly he receives backup by the Russian mafia in person of one of Kutzows former creditors Johnny Smirnoff and his goons JURI (Wladimir Kaminer) and POPOV. Showing lively interest in Becks' lucrative credit fraught business Smirnoff offers fast and professional help to shut up his talkative brother- in- law.

Back home in his villa, Manni is confronted with the desolate condition of his wife Lili, who spends her lonely life drunken behind closed blinds, fleeing into multiple identities. She can't fully realise the death of her father.

The pressure on Becks increases once more when one of his Polish truck driver gets into trouble with the police. Asking for exemption of punishment in return, he offers information regarding Becks' phantom companies in Poland to detective superintendent UDO GERBER (Udo Kier), not knowing that Gerber, who suffers badly from asthma, is also one of Becks' silent partners. Gerber manages to get a hold on the case and releases the Polish driver, being sure that Manni will solve this problem in his own manner.

Getting a hint from Gerber Becks sends out his bodyguard BOBBY (Birol Ünel) to find the Pole he- but underestimates Bobby's psychopathic temper Soon Manni has to deal with another problem: The Polish truck driver is dying in his arms on the backseat of his limousine, while circling through the nocturnal city.

Even happy-pills, the silicone knockers of his secret lover and gallons of champagne can't keep selfish Manni satisfied anymore.

The snowball hits Manni like an avalanche and drags him down into the deepest valley of loneliness, madness and death ...