Nina, a mentally ill teenage orphan, starts a new job as a garden cleaner when she meets Toni. They fall in love but soon Toni starts betraying Nina. Meanwhile, Francoise is picked up at a Berlin psychiatric hospital by her husband, Pierre. After spotting Nina, Francoise believes that she has found her kidnapped daughter Marie, but no one believes her.

"Maria am Wasser" tells a story of the search in symbolic allusions and beautiful, fairytale pictures. The search for love, past, reconciliation and forgiveness. Summer 1983 in Saxony. A tank drives with four children of the orphanage "Frohe Zukunft" through the Elbe. The excursion seems to end fatally for all children, as the tank sinks. 22 years later, organ builder Marcus Lenk returns to his home village of Neusorge and claims to be one of the children. Marcus is perplexed: no one recognizes him. Not even his father Hannes, who lives with a few sheep, nor his mother Mary, who runs the orphanage with a strict hand, believe in his identity.

Two brothers and their mother arrive in Germany after the grandma convinces them that they should leave Kazakhastan and head for the land of their ancestors.

On 13 January 2011, 24 scientists on night shift enter the control room. On 14 January 2011 at 6.00 PM clock only 1 scientist exits the control room. The other 23 have vanished without a trace. The scientist is questioned by two officers of the investigating detective services. An incredible story begins.

Emily (8) is terminally ill. Her parents ask the new CEO of a small pharmaceutical company, Dr. Julia Schemmel, for the early release of a drug that is not yet ready for the market. Dr. Julia Schemmel is to consolidate the company. The young company has to invest hundreds of millions of euros for each drug and is planning to go public. At the same time, Michael and Nicole Wagner receive the diagnosis that their daughter is suffering from incurable childhood dementia. During extensive internet research, Michael finds out that the pharmaceutical company "Berner & Braun" is researching a cure that has already been tested on people in Asia. It is said to slow down the progression of the disease, possibly even stop it. Together with other affected parents, the Wagners demand a study for children in Germany and the release of the drug.

Truck driver Martin is about to be made redundant. Even outside the statutory driving times, he is barely able to deliver his loads on time. Martin is at the end of his tether, but he needs this job. Reluctantly, freight forwarder Roland is persuaded to go on one last probationary tour. During a stopover, Martin is asked by the prostitute Ramona to give her a lift. At this point, Martin doesn't know that Ramona is fleeing from her pimp, who is closer to them than they realize.

The Harz village policeman Frank Koops cares little about adventures and even less about birthdays. So he only reluctantly goes on a survival weekend with Heiner, which his colleague Mette gave him for his birthday. When they set off, organizer Nora has no idea that fun is going to be serious this time.