The relationship between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great German writer, and Christiane Vulpius, a village girl, is one of the instantaneous and fiery passion. They lived together for 28 years, 18 of these living in sin, 10 a married couple. Christiane's rival, Charlotte von Stein, a former favorite of Goethe, begins plotting and scheming against her. Christiane puts up with countless insults and humiliations like having to 'disappear' with their son into the servants' quarters and to stay at home on official occasions. Goethe marries her when she saves his life during an attack by plundering Napoleonic soldiers. Her new social position as Goethe's wife is resented and envied by all. When she is openly attacked by the snooty, jealous people, Goethe is only half-hearted in coming to her defence. But she stays with him for he is her great love, even when she turns to the charms of many youthful admirers...

After a lot of trial and error, Hilde Reimer has finally decided to marry her late love Theo. Immediately after the wedding, Theo moves in with her in the Reimersche family villa - nothing seems to stand in the way of their mutual happiness. Or is it? While Theo soon gets to feel the idiosyncrasies of his new wife, Hilde quickly realizes that she can hardly keep up with the pace of the agile Theo in everyday life.

Three children of a single father escape from the town in order to find a houseboat which was once owned by their mother.