1523. The Protestant theologian Thomas Müntzer is entrusted with the pastorate by the 'Allstedt Council'. On the one hand, he is to open people's minds and hearts to more freedom, and on the other, he is to serve as an ally against the count.

The aircraft mechanic Hans Bertram is an incorrigible apron hunter who boasts that he can get around any woman. He even makes bets on it. But then he falls in love with the new colleague, the budding engineer Helga Nonnert. He fails to conquer them by storm. After many tangles and fun episodes, she manages to heal him of his gallant frivolity.

Maria is a record saleswoman by profession. She is lucky to have a job, because the year is 1930 and a major economic crisis has hit the world, accompanied by an army of unemployed people, especially in Germany. Maria is aware of her good fortune; in order to secure it, she has to do without many things. What business owner would employ an unmarried woman with a child in times like these? When Maria became pregnant, she, like many other women, had to become "active" and do something about this "misfortune". So she seeks "help" from a female doctor, trusting in her youth and hoping for better times when family happiness could come true for her.

A funny old comedy about ten year old Micha who decide that as a responsible brother he must prevent his older sister - seventeen year old Susi - from any romantic relations.

Susanne and Christian get to know each other during a wonderful week in summer - and fall in love. This, however, leads to conflicts: up to now, Susanne has been living with Wolfgang, a biologist. This shared life was harmonious and based on mutual trust. Wolfgang is not only resolute and in full command of social situations; he has also always been the stabilizing force in the relationship. This is precisely why Susanne now feels drawn to the unsettled, unsteady and frivolous Christian, the complete opposite of the calm, well-balanced Wolfgang. And Christian, working as a shift boss on a natural gas derrick, has become more aware of his personal and social responsibilities as a result of loving Susanne.

Russian soldier Grisha escapes from a German prisoner-of-war camp in the spring of 1917. He is caught and is to be shot as a spy. This decision is controversial. The dispute continues. Grisha is executed on the orders of the army high command.

Young Elisabeth goes on a country trip with her mother, her friends Reinhard and Erich, their parents and the pastor. While the adults prepare a picnic lunch, the three youngest members of the group are asked to look for berries for dessert. The dutiful Erich eagerly collects them, while Elisabeth and Reinhard set off together in search of fruit. They find a hiding place they had built years ago. Although they still love each other, Elisabeth is sad. Reinhard will leave the next day to study in another city and will only visit her rarely. She doesn't know how she will go on living without him. She picks him a water lily as a memento and he gives her a goldfinch in a cage.

The communist and resistance fighter Lorenz Reger, who after the war put all his efforts in the creation of a socialist German state, learns that he has only a short time left to live. Nevertheless, he wants to take on one last difficult new task: He wants to restructure a large firm which has run deep into the red numbers. In a short amount of time, Reger manages to establish mutual trust between the employees and the new management. Furthermore, he motivates the employees with his personal interest for their concerns.