Studio Babelsberg Independents

Kurt and Lydia are planning a relaxed vacation at the Gripsholm castle in Sweden . What Lydia does not know is that for Kurt, a well-known publicist, the journey is actually a flight from encroaching fascism and a direct threat from the Nazis.

Set against the backdrop of post-unification Germany, the film explores the breakdown of relations in a decaying social structure.

The relationship between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great German writer, and Christiane Vulpius, a village girl, is one of the instantaneous and fiery passion. They lived together for 28 years, 18 of these living in sin, 10 a married couple. Christiane's rival, Charlotte von Stein, a former favorite of Goethe, begins plotting and scheming against her. Christiane puts up with countless insults and humiliations like having to 'disappear' with their son into the servants' quarters and to stay at home on official occasions. Goethe marries her when she saves his life during an attack by plundering Napoleonic soldiers. Her new social position as Goethe's wife is resented and envied by all. When she is openly attacked by the snooty, jealous people, Goethe is only half-hearted in coming to her defence. But she stays with him for he is her great love, even when she turns to the charms of many youthful admirers...

Shortly before his retirement, provincial detective Hartwich has more mysteries to solve than in his last 20 years of service put together: First, the charred body of a man in a diving suit is discovered after a forest fire, but the nearest lake is miles away. Then a dismembered female corpse turns up, wrapped in the bag of a drinks store that has sent out 1000 of them. And to make matters worse, Hartwich's successor, the eager Tobias Kutschke, starts work just as the investigation begins...