Tough Enough

Available to screen now

Fifteen-year-old Michael Polischka is thrown into a gritty urban world when his mother breaks up with her rich doctor boyfriend. With little money of her own, Miriam is forced to move them into a dumpy apartment in a rough ethnic neighbourhood, far from the posh suburbs they have grown accustomed to.

Beatings and extortion by a gang of violent bullies makes public high school miserable for Michael. Life at home isn’t much fun since he has to put up with the guys his pretty young mum entertains in her desperate search for a new man.

Michael learns the ropes about the neighbourhood from his likeable new buddies Crille and his younger half-brother Matze, a couple of neglected undisciplined delinquents. Not only do they give Michael some street smarts, they also introduce him to petty crime, cutting class and drinking.

A chance meeting with urban crime-lord Hamal and his henchman Barut turns Michael’s life around. The thugs take him under their wing, protecting him from the high school gang. Michael’s honest face makes him the perfect guy for drug delivers to local dealers. The teenager handles the tension of these dangerous missions like a pro. Michael proves he’s tough enough, but eventually finds out he’s actually in way over his head.