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As Cosimo’s failed attempt at stealing a car lands him in prison, he crosses paths with an elderly inmate who introduces him to the thrilling idea of “Bellini” — a heist that had previously evaded capture thanks to the life sentence of its original planner. Driven by ambition, Cosimo convinces his girlfriend, Rosalind, to find someone willing to take the fall for him, promising a hefty reward in return. In a twist of fate, Rosalind teams up with Toto to assemble a ragtag group of misfits: Basil, Leon, Riley, and Pero “Pepe” Mahalovic, a boxer ready to accept prison time for $16,000. To everyone’s surprise, Pepe’s sentence gets abruptly suspended, consequently leaving Cosimo stuck behind bars while his accomplice enjoys freedom.

When Pepe returns, he faces the fury of Rosalind and the gang who demand reimbursement for his betrayal. He insists he spent the $16,000 to clear debts and offers to explain the mechanics of the Bellini heist in exchange for their forgiveness. Determined to take control of the situation, the six misfits resolve to execute the heist themselves.

Their target is an unassuming brick building on Chester Street that has been transformed from a flour factory into apartments and a jewelry store. An elderly friend had previously worked on this project, secretly putting in a false wall between one apartment and the jewelry store safe. In a daring move, Riley seizes the opportunity to procure a camera from a street market with the aim of capturing the combination as the jeweler accesses the safe. However, after their first attempt ends in failure, they recruit Jerzy, a wheelchair-bound safecracker, to show them how to drill into the safe — all while keeping watch for Detective Babitch’s escalating scrutiny.

Tensions rise when two maiden aunts and their maid, Carmela, move into the long-unoccupied apartment. Leon and Basil come up with a scheme to distract Carmela and steal her keys, while Pero uses his charm to woo one of the aunts. Meanwhile, an unexpected chance for freedom arises for Cosimo when a guard falls ill, giving him the opportunity to slip into the guard uniform and escape.

Upon his return, Cosimo confronts Pepe and the gang, who argue for a fair split of the Bellini haul. Angered, he chastises Rosalind for her perceived disloyalty and warns anyone to back off from “his” Bellini — a pursuit that has consumed his thoughts. As Rosalind begins to lose hope, she distances herself from the group, leaving Pero to unexpectedly develop feelings for Carmela. Unbeknownst to him, she whispers secrets about her aunts being away for days, granting them crucial time. Fate takes a grim turn as Cosimo meets an untimely death in a tragic bus accident, leaving the group to navigate their grief and the fallout of their collective choices.

As night falls, Riley makes a reckless decision to leave his baby in Rosalind’s care before heading to Pero’s apartment. But unforeseen circumstances lead him to a savage encounter with the men whose camera he had stolen. Showing up at Pero’s apartment battered, with a broken arm and feeble from painkillers, he raises concern among his friends.

Meanwhile, Leon’s life is spun into chaos upon discovering Basil’s newfound dedication to living honestly, ignited by his affection for Michelle. This prompts Basil to abandon the night’s heist plans in an effort to prove himself worthy in Michelle’s eyes. With time running short, tensions escalate within the group as they prepare for their heist.

What follows is a series of comedic fiascos during the operation. Toto finds himself without his trousers, while Pero’s attempts at stealth lead to a reckless break-in that sees them stumbling into the wrong apartment — the kitchen — at 3 AM. As their hopes crumble around them, they are left with a paltry $1,000, a far cry from their initial ambitions.

In the aftermath, Riley suggests they go their separate ways for good, but his friends vehemently disagree. Instead, they resolve to use the money from their misadventures to cover Riley’s wife’s jail fine, leaving him with nothing but a heavy heart and a bus ticket out of town. As the group disbands, Leon heads home to reconcile with Michelle, while Pero contemplates the importance of relationships over wealth.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 14:44