In the 1800s, a stormy love relationship develops quickly between a young medical student and a woman believing herself to be the daughter of his scientist uncle, the student having never heard of her before their chance encounter and both unaware that she is the result of the scientist's illegal experiments with artificial insemination..

Widower Paul always delayed talking to his daughter about sex. But when workers on a nearby construction site are falling down their scaffold because 16 years old "Herzblatt" is tanning naked, he feels he has to take action. In the hope she'll learn herself what consequences the difference between boys and girls has, he tries to get her a boyfriend.

One day, an exceptionally beautiful girl shows up at Josua Webmann’s pawnshop to pawn a golden harp. Josua’s apprentice, Klaas, immediately sees her as an angel. That evening, she meets him again and dances with him, causing even the previously indifferent Lissy to take notice of Klaas. Meanwhile, Josua worries about his money and negotiates with an instrument dealer who makes him a generous offer for the harp. The next day, the girl and the harp have disappeared again—but she has left behind unexpected wealth.

A dramatic reconstruction of the July 1944 attempt by German Army Officers to assassinate Hitler with a bomb and end the war before Germany was totally destroyed.

Tensions rise when a U.S. military base is built in a small village in post-war Germany.