The action of the melodrama takes place in the late 19th century, in an idyllic mountain village. Behind the façade of law and morality there is stubbornness, depravity and fear. As a dedicated teacher , Franz Gattl has been caring for the children of the mountain village for years . The kids love him.The progressive assistant teacher is a thorn in the side of the village priest Kleiber, who reports to Franz , and he uses every opportunity to spoil his future ; Especially when he found out about his assistant teacher 's love for Anna Rissbacher . When Anna becomes pregnant , he sees hishour has come. The young couple has to leave their home country head over heels .

Little Kati lives with her mother Anna in a tiny apartment. The two of them are struggling to make ends meet by singing at the Christmas market. When Anna is once again late with the rent, her heartless landlord throws her out just before Christmas. Fortunately, Willy Wuff has heard about their misfortune and rushes to help. He puts them up in the villa of millionaire Jakob, who is on a winter vacation with his mistress. However, when he breaks off the vacation in an argument and returns home, he realizes who has taken up residence in his house. And Kati and her mother mistake the intruder for a burglar. The beginning of a series of amusing mix-ups.

In 1989, teacher Wendler and his wife leave the GDR to join his Bavarian uncle. In the West, the line-loyal educator with a whitewashed CV is immediately accepted back into the teaching profession. He advances to become a model Bavarian. Until one day a pupil from bygone GDR days turns up...

Real estate speculator Albert Hahn is found dead in his cellar. He died of fermentation gas poisoning. The doctor in charge assumes it was an accident. But Polt knows that the dead man was hated in the community. He suspects that the murderer wanted to make the death look like an accident. Many of the winegrowers had a motive. After a long investigation in the wine cellars, he discovers that all the cellars are connected by holes. Polt doesn't want to leave the feeling that it was a murder. As he drinks some wine with his friends, they all confess to the crime. They had all poisoned Albert Hahn with the fermentation gas together, but only one of them wants to take all the blame, as the rest have children and wives. He commits suicide and leaves a confession behind.

Seven months after marrying and settling on Rosa’s Alpine pasture, fishmonger Hannes flees back to Hamburg. Furious, Rosa follows him to the Hanseatic city.

Widow Rosa has lived on her mountain pasture for 38 years. Nobody takes her away. No one? The priest is so enchanted by her homemade chocolates that he secretly sends her to a competition. And Rosa wins! At the award ceremony in Hamburg, two suitors try to win Rosa's favor. But fishmonger Hannes and handsome Matteo have ulterior motives...

The film is based on the figure of the police inspector Simon Polt of the Austrian author Alfred Komarek.