This drama is taken from Thomas Mann's 1903 semi-autobiographical novel. Tonio (Jean Claude Brialy) is an aspiring writer and the son of a rigid aristocratic father and a music-loving mother. Wandering throughout Germany and Italy to "find himself," Tonio frequently remembers his childhood experiences in a series of flashbacks. The highlight of the film is the expert lensing by cinematographer Wolf Wirth. Erika Mann, the daughter of the late poet and author, collaborated with Ennio Flaiano on the screenplay.

Four contemplative stories about problems with love: "Profitability" is about money, "The Smile" is about coping with a difficult situation, an "Experiment with Alf" is supposed to save a marriage, and in "Paternity" a lawyer and her husband are committed to a little girl who is the subject of a lawsuit.

'Please help me!' the young GDR refugee begs the passengers of the interzonal train 'D 106'. He has just jumped on the night train during an unforeseen stop - to get to the west as quickly as possible. He can't go back, and in less than an hour they reach the German-German border - without stopping. The passengers meanwhile begin to ask themselves serious questions: Am I helping the young man and risking my own safety? Or is that too dangerous for me? While people are racking their brains, not only is the train racing away, but time is too ...

Erika, Dorle and Ilse, three friends between 60 and 70, have always stuck together and always manage to take life on the bright side. Erika's big dream is to have an expensive breast reconstruction. But she doesn't have the money. In order to fulfill her friend's heart's desire, Dorle and Ilse take on temporary jobs and eventually even develop an unexpected criminal energy. However, problems are not long in coming.

The young Prue Shackleton travels from London to Cornwall to visit her beloved aunt Phoebe, who has just become a widow. On the train she meets Charlotte, a sad little girl who comes from a broken home.