Sawdust Tales is a whimsical and timeless parable on survival in hard times and the force of a first love against all odds. In a timeless no-mans land scarred by social decay and imminent war, a circus troupe awaits the arrival of the mysterious Rupert who is to deliver them from danger into a better world. The old and wise tightrope master keeps a watchful, loving eye on his young apprentice who, to his concern, could be drafted into the army at any moment. To make matters worse, the boy falls in love with a mermaid...

The Political drama shows the denunciation and persecution of the 19-year-old Sanne in the Nazi state. After she falls in love with her cousin, Sanne is betrayed by her jealous aunt to the Gestapo.

Edward Kaminsky, an aging ad man, wants a golden parachute from his agency; he must first land the Opel auto contract. Rosa, a youth with wealthy parents, wants to establish herself as an artist. The clumsy and enthusiastic Viktor, not quite honest, wants work. When he wanders into Kaminsky's meeting with Opel and says something about irony, the Opel director wants him in on the campaign. Then he steals an idea from Rosa that the Opel director loves. Before Rosa discovers he's expropriated her idea, Rosa and Viktor become lovers. Father-son feelings materialize between Kaminsky and Viktor. Can the impulsive Viktor hold it together before Rosa learns the truth and flies away?

Erich Kasulke and Rudolf Portmann are comedian stars of the former GDR. When the Wall falls, so does their success. Portmann becomes a successful businessman, while Kasulke tries to continue working on the comedy circuit - without success. When his wife also cheats on him, he decides to start a new life in Berlin. There he quickly meets his old friend Portmann, who has built up a huge company. He offers him a job. But Erich puts the entire company in danger...

Asylum seeker Dudie lives in a shabby hostel for asylum seekers. Dudie is plagued by bad luck: His girlfriend lets herself be bought as a wife, a couple of beefy men want to get their hands on him and it looks like he won't be getting a job any time soon. One evening, when he is hanging out with a couple of Africans from the home, one of the men gives him an address in Berlin where he can get help. Dudi sets off for Berlin and meets Cuffi Bugudubugu. Cuffi offers him a place to live and gets him a job on a building site. His boss treats him unfairly and his co-workers despise him. But Dudi doesn't let this get him down and all sorts of crazy things happen to him: First he marries a German woman for money, then he slaughters a sheep on the building site and soon gets a job in a kebab shop...

When rail lines are cut and workers laid off, Kurt Grantke sabotages the Commercial Railway to protect his town. Despite no injuries or evidence, the line to Storchenroda closes. Caught by Commissar Stahl, Kurt is freed by friends and, with his new wife, joins fellow railway workers in emigrating to South America.

A medical doctor who is regarded as a specialist in retort research has been found dead. Science journalist Vera Pukall investigates the alleged suicide and uncovers the ruthless activities of a large pharmaceutical company. She receives help from Dr. Svoboda, of all people, the group's main stockholder.