In apparently wealthy countries around the world, including Germany and Austria, more and more people are unable to make ends meet, and poverty is now encroaching on the middle classes. Certain groups are particularly at risk from these developments, including older people, those affected by short-term and long-term unemployment, the disabled, single parents and students. Many of those affected risk losing everything, which can have wide-ranging physical and mental consequences. The resulting social isolation and tensions within the wider public sphere give rise to conflicts driven by fear and envy. Against the background of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war and the environmental crisis, the directors Stefan Wolner and Hannah Wahl explore the many different facets of poverty in wider society. Powerful imagery and compelling personal stories convey a greater understanding of how and why poverty affects both individuals and populations as a whole.