Public prosecutor Katja Schilling is conducting a murder trial against the powerful underworld boss Mankoff. But more and more witnesses are withdrawing their incriminating statements in court, because Mankoff's arm still reaches far from prison. This makes Nadezha Shaposhnikov, the sister of the young murdered drug courier who witnessed Mankoff's crime, all the more important.

For many years, 17-year-old Paul has been in love with Saskia, the prettiest girl in school, who is two years older than him. Unfortunately, she doesn't feel the same way about him, but Paul doesn't give up. He composes a song for his beloved in order to win her heart—and start a music career. Later, Paul realizes that his song has been stolen and can be heard on a Nirvana album under the name "Smells Like Teen Spirit"! He feels triple betrayed: robbed of his just reward, his record deal, and Saskia's love. So Paul decides to complain to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and follows the band, which is on tour in Germany in 1991, from concert to concert. But when he finally meets the crazy Hamburg woman Tolle, he slowly realizes that there are more important things in life than fame and glory.

Mona Maybach is a single mother to Marius, who has a heart condition. Even as a young boy, Marius had to undergo expensive surgeries in the United States. So far, Mona has managed to keep from her son how she earns the money for his treatments—but for how much longer…