A family movie directed by Renata Kaye.

Gottfried and Markus are friends who have done everything together so far: School, vocational training with A-levels, time in the army. Markus' girlfriend Karin is also adored by Gottfried. Now they are about to leave for Dresden to study physics. At the last moment, Gottfried changes his mind. He stays and wants to become a home educator after picking up a runaway boy and bringing him back. Markus terminates his friendship, his parents and colleagues are stunned. But Gottfried enthusiastically puts his intention into practice. Karin turns more and more to him, and when he loses some children on an outing, Markus helps.

Berlin in the 60s. The construction of the Berlin Wall not only divides the city, but also separates the Rechlin family. While mother Ingelore lives with husband Hannes and the youngest son in the eastern part of the city, the young, married daughter Beate lives in West Berlin. Even when she gives birth to the first grandson, the newly baked grandma Ingelore cannot visit her. Travel permits are only issued one year later. But the formerly so tight family bond is burdened by the long separation. Son Bernd also avoids the rest of the family, as his new girlfriend has just been released from prison because of attempted "republic escape". And so Mother Ingelore almost has to watch her family shatter.

Otto Zühlke is speechless when his wife Doris finally arrives back at her family home after long weeks of training. She decides not to let her husband get away with such a thing and the expected night of love is over for the time being. Otto comes to his senses and keeps his word, and Doris can finally embrace her husband.

Dentist Dr. Franke's selfless willingness to help is much appreciated by neighbors and acquaintances in the GDR. There is only one exception: Biggi, the beautiful coach of the ice hockey team that Dr. Franke looks after. Biggi thinks Dr. Franke is a particularly clumsy little man. But there's also Nurse Agnes, who once again has to stick her nose into matters that don't really concern her, and thus helps things along...

The young Walter Retzlow, drafted into the guard team of a foreign labor factory in the last year of the war, receives the papers of a murdered anti-fascist by chance. He adopts the new identity, which promises him security.

Susanne is a young single mother who lives a somewhat "carefree" lifestyle. After quitting her job, she finds herself in trouble financially and attempts a minor insurance fraud to make ends meet. Despite its rare view of everyday socialism from a woman's perspective, East German officials were critical of this frank portrayal of a less-than-ideal socialist citizen and turned down all invitations for the film to be screened abroad.