Emmi Kurowski, a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali. Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.

When 17-year-old Effi Briest marries the elderly Baron von Instetten, she moves to a small, isolated Baltic town and a house that she fears is haunted. Starved for companionship, Effi begins a friendship with Major Crampas, a charismatic womanizer.

Fox, a former circus performer, wins the lottery of DM 500,000 and can now have the life and things that he has always wanted. He enters an abusive relationship with wealthy industrialist Eugen in an attempt to climb the social ladder. His desperation for love and affection soon spirals into tragedy.

Ricky returns to Munich from Vietnam and is promptly hired as a contract killer.

Hans is a street fruit peddler and born loser. His choice of career upsets his bourgeois family, causing him to turn to drinking and violence. After recovering from a debilitating heart attack, his business finally begins to take off. However, the more he becomes a credit to his family, the more depressed he becomes.

The story of the 18 year old prostitute Fanny who falls back into her old life after being released from a reform school run by nuns. The feeble-minded Frieder tries to liberate her, fails, and pays for it with his life.

Mercedes, Max, Krull, Stephan and Karin live in an apartment in Munich. Krull loves Mercedes in vain, Karin thinks boys are horrible and takes part in competitions. She wins an evening with Udo Lindenberg. Pursued by Krull, Karin and Mercedes leave the apartment. Stephan and Max are left alone. While Karin goes to the hairdresser for the evening, Mercedes meets Simon, who drives a large truck. They decide to get married and have seven children.

Two young prostitutes decide to settle on a farm in the outskirts of an idyllic Bavarian mountain village. Initially, this is a pain in the neck for the village council and the local clergy, but the moral guardians soon reveal themselves to be lacking in steadfast ideals.

Episode movie about the no-future generation of the early 1980s.

After the death of her abusive father, lonely librarian Martha finds herself caught up in a strange, sadomasochistic relationship with a monstrous husband whom she begins to suspect may be trying to murder her.