Chiko

Chiko

Year: 2008

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: German

Director: Özgür Yildirim

CrimeDrama

Isa, known as Chiko, grows up in a Hamburg suburb—a city famed for its wealth yet hiding a ruthless underbelly. In this gritty world, violence, territorial staking and drug use are everyday realities. Refusing to accept defeat, Chiko is relentless in his quest to rise to the top, no matter the cost or the enemies he must confront.

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Timeline & Setting – Chiko (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Chiko (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary Hamburg setting, reflecting present-day immigrant communities and street-level crime. The story moves through fast money schemes, nightlife, and brutal consequences that shape the characters' lives. It presents a modern urban milieu where loyalty, betrayal, and survival define daily choices.

Location

Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg, Germany serves as the urban setting where Chiko and Tibet navigate a gritty underworld. The city’s neighborhoods frame a story of ambition, crime, and immigrant life. Locations like a recording studio, a luxurious apartment, and a mosque anchor the action in a modern, multi-faceted metropolis.

🏙️ Urban city 🌍 Immigrant life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Main Characters – Chiko (2008)

Meet the key characters of Chiko (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chiko

Issa, known as Chiko, is a Turkish immigrant in Hamburg who pursues wealth and respect by any means. He partners with Tibet in criminal ventures, showing a willingness to bend or break the law to secure a lavish lifestyle. His ambitions drive escalating violence, culminating in a fatal confrontation with Brownie and a tragic end as a betrayed friend turns against him.

💼 Ambition 🗡️ Violence 💔 Betrayal

Tibet

Chiko’s best friend, Tibet, lives with his mother in Hamburg and battles renal disease requiring regular dialysis while sinking deeper into addiction. He pursues revenge against Brownie, staging violence and manipulating others, a plan that ultimately spirals out of control. Tibet remains a volatile ally whose choices push the plot toward catastrophe.

🩺 Illness 💊 Addiction 🗡️ Violence

Brownie

A music producer and drug dealer who wields power over Chiko and Tibet, Brownie uses money and influence to control others and punish perceived slights. He is eventually killed by Chiko in front of his wife and child, underscoring the lethal stakes of their criminal world.

💰 Greed 🗡️ Violence 🎭 Deceit

Curly

A mutual friend who drives the duo toward Brownie, Curly becomes collateral damage when Tibet fires accidentally, injuring him. His limited role highlights how civilian participants are drawn into the cycle of violence.

💥 Accidents 🤝 Friendship 🎭 Drama

Meryem

A prostitute connected to Brownie whom Chiko has fallen in love with; Brownie fires her, and she moves into Chiko’s upscale apartment, complicating Chiko’s emotional world as he grapples with desire and loyalty.

💘 Love 💔 Exploitation 🎭 Drama

Tibets Mutter

Tibet’s mother, depicted as a caring figure, is murdered by Brownie’s thugs. Her death intensifies the consequences of the men’s actions and fuels Tibetan and Chiko’s spiraling revenge.

🕯️ Family 💔 Loss 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

Major Themes – Chiko (2008)

Explore the central themes of Chiko (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the main characters to risk everything for wealth and status. The pursuit of money overrides loyalty, leading to manipulation, violence and fatal confrontations. The escalating drug deals and lavish spending underscore how profit corrupts personal relationships. The story uses wealth as the currency that exposes character flaws.

🗡️ Revenge

Revenge is a central force that propels the plot, shaping decisions from betrayals to shootings. The characters wage a violent game to settle scores, often with devastating collateral damage. The cycle of vengeance culminates in a brutal confrontation that seals the fates of the protagonists. Revenge reveals the fragility of trust under pressure.

🤝 Loyalty

The relationship between Chiko and Tibet tests loyalty, as ambition and anger threaten their bond. The story juxtaposes friendship with manipulation, showing how trust can be exploited by those pursuing their own gains. When violence erupts, loyalty fractures and redefines who sacrifices for whom. The final act exposes the limits and costs of allegiance.

🌍 Identity

The protagonists grapple with immigrant identity within a gritty Hamburg milieu. The tension between cultural heritage and the lure of urban crime shapes choices and tensions. The city’s mix of tradition and modernity offers a backdrop for personal reinvention and moral compromise. Identity is tested by survival in a hostile, resource-driven environment.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:43

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Chiko Summary

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Chiko Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Chiko

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