Ringo Fleisch from Herne loses his job and starts working at a funfair. He gets drawn into this new world by Fränkie, a showman, into making a career as a fairground boxer. Ringo starts travelling with the carnival and leaves his tranquil home for the first time.
He manages to gather a new, small fairground family around him. Fränkie becomes a strong mentor who beckons with fast money and star status at the fair. The Great Hainz, a mime, becomes his loyal companion. Through Jenny from the bumper cars, he gets to know the fast and dangerous life of the carnival.
Ringo seems ambitious and suddenly has a clear goal in mind: At the end of the fair season, he hopes to fulfill a long-awaited dream for his deaf daughter.