Romeo is a kindhearted and courageous boy living with his family in a small village in Switzerland. Unfortunately, Romeo becomes the interest of a man named Luini, known as "The God of Death," who is infamous for buying children and selling them as chimney sweeps in Milan. While visiting the village, Luini burns down Romeo's family cornfield in an attempt to have Romeo as his own. With the cornfield gone and his father sustaining a head injury trying to put out the fire, Romeo bravely sells himself to the God of Death in order to help his family afford a doctor. On his way to Milan, Romeo meets a boy named Alfredo Martini and they quickly become friends. Just as Alfredo is sold to a different master, the two boys swear eternal friendship and vow to meet again. As a chimney sweep, Romeo faces many hardships and abuse, especially from his master's family and a gang known as the Wolf Pack. But after reuniting with Alfredo, the two form a fraternity of chimney sweeps called "The Black Brothers," who will learn to fight against the Wolf Pack and help each other in times of need. * Based on the novel Die Schwarzen Brüder by the Swiss author Lisa Tetzner.Romeo is an 11-year-old boy, who lives with his family in peaceful poverty in a small village in Switzerland.One day, Romeo decides to sell himself into slavery, because the money will enable his sick father to get the medical treatment he needs.An evil man named Ruini pays money for Romeo and takes him far away to Milan.Romeo is forced to become a chimney sweep. His life in Milan is hard, and his master's family is always hard on him, but he also has a lot of good times with his best friend Alfred and the other chimney boys. Romeo and the chimney boys organize a group of chimney sweeps which they call the Black Brothers.