In China They Eat Dogs

Arvid is a bank teller stuck in a lifeless routine, constantly harassed by strangers and looked down on by his girlfriend Hanna. He longs for excitement but mostly endures the monotony of his days. This setup establishes his vulnerability and readiness for upheaval.

When a robbery unfolds at the bank, Arvid steps in and helps halt the crisis, making a rare, dangerous impact on his mundane life. His actions briefly earn respect from bystanders and hint at a brighter, riskier path. The event marks the first crack in his routine.

Hanna refuses to believe Arvid was involved and dumps him, taking most of their shared possessions. The breakup deepens his isolation and pushes him toward seeking something more thrilling. The fracture leaves him adrift and more vulnerable to later confrontations.

Astrid, Franz's wife, tracks down Arvid and explains that Franz robbed the bank to pay for medical treatments so they could have a child. Her revelation reframes the crime as desperate, not merely criminal, which unsettles Arvid. The connection pulls him deeper into a dangerous world.

Feeling guilty, Arvid reaches out to his brother Harald, long estranged because of their father’s criminal ties. They hatch a plan to rob a van carrying money to the bank, hoping to alter their fates. The alliance drags Arvid further into violence and crime.

The brothers pull off the van robbery and deliver the money to Astrid. Arvid is sickened by the brutal and reckless violence Harald and his crew use to execute the heist. The payout clashes with his growing moral revulsion and foreshadows deeper conflicts.

Harald and Arvid break Franz out of jail to leverage him against Astrid. A violent altercation erupts during the escape, resulting in the death of their driver Vug. The escalation cements Harald’s brutality and pulls Arvid further from his former life.

Franz reveals that Astrid is actually his sister and had been avoiding her after she conned him. In a burst of rage, Harald kills Franz. Astrid uses the chaos to flee to South Africa, hoping to escape their wrath.

Afraid of further violence, Arvid tries to distance himself from Harald's criminal circle. Hanna reappears, showing up at his apartment to claim the rest of their belongings after being dumped. The mounting pressure pushes Arvid toward a breaking point.

At his breaking point, Arvid kills Hanna, severing another tie to his old life. He then reunites with Harald to chase Astrid, plunging deeper into the violent circle they inhabit. The pursuit sets the stage for a final confrontation.

To fund their escape to South Africa, the brothers attempt to rob the bank where Arvid works. They are ambushed by Onkel, the head of a Serbian cartel, retaliating for their earlier actions. The confrontation escalates into a deadly showdown.

During the confrontation with Onkel and his men, Arvid is killed. Harald and their associates are left to grieve amid the wreckage of their violent plans. The death marks the tragic end of Arvid's attempted escape from his fate.

In limbo, Arvid is greeted by an angel named Richard who had been guiding his misadventures to a demonic bartender. Richard explains the verdict and Ariid’s chance for Heaven. Arvid is ultimately allowed into Heaven while the other victims of the shootout are sent to Hell.