The young officer Count Yorck von Wartenburg - he bears one of the most famous names of the German past - awaits his execution as a participant in the conspiracy of July 20, 1944. Von Wartenburg, together with his comrades, suffers infinitely long days of terrible torture, disrespect and humiliation as a death candidate. In a dream, he experiences his escape and the real continuation of his fight against fascist barbarism, for which he must detach himself from his class and is involved in the anti-Hitler front by communists and the Soviet army.

35-year old ballet soloist Peter ends his career as a performance dancer and, on the occasion of his last stage performance, looks back on his career and his life. Peter′s retrospection is centred on the relationship with his professional and romantic partner Lotte, who he had once met at a joint performance. Peter remembers the landmarks of their love: their marriage, their child, and Lotte′s severe illness that threatened to end her career. In flashbacks, the film shows how the couple survived this crisis by working sacrificially to return to the stage and celebrate international success.