Up until the middle of the 19Th century, poverty stricken mountain farmers from the Ticino area of Switzerland frequently sold their children to Milan as chimney sweeps or spazzacamini. That is also young Giorgios fate. He is forced to climb through pitch black chimneys, flinging down the soot with his bare hands. But he does not lose heart. Together with his buddies sharing in the same misery, he establishes the association of Black Brothers. They stick together, struggling against their penury and getting involved in fights with the street gangs of Milan. The film tells of the gripping adventures of the chimney sweep boys and their spectacular escape back to their native land.
as Antonio Luini
as Battista Rossi
as Pater Roberto
as Angeletta
as Frau Rossi
as Alfredo
as Giorgios Mutter
as Nonna
as Giorgio
as Dante
as Enzo
as Antonio
as Riccardo
as Luigi
as Marco
as Anselmo
as Meister Spitzbart
as Katze
as Blatternarbiger
as Einaugiger
as Giorgios Vater
as Meister 2
as Anita
as Andere Dame
as Marktfrau (uncredited)
as Handwerker (uncredited)