A commercial artist with a lisp chooses silence, unexpectedly propelling his career. His perceived innovation leads to rapid advancement in an ad agency. Mueller-Stahl shines in this biting critique of East German workplace culture.

In 1896 the Berlin noble doctor Dr. Wilhelm Holtfreter takes over his well-to-do wife Mathilde and takes over the country doctor's office in the Prussian district of Westprignitz from the late Dr. Tochtenhagen. His decision was met with incomprehension everywhere.

Willi, a dropout from Berlin, hitchhikes to the south of France with his buddy Paul Gottlieb. There he sets out to find a certain Pierre, whom he knows from the war and post-war period. Pierre offers him the villa of a pretty model who wants to travel to Paris for an extended period of time as a place to stay for the winter. But when Willi enters the villa, he hears strange noises in the basement. This marks the beginning of an exciting life for him.

The shy detective Serafim Schröder is still relatively new to the police force. That's why he doesn't yet know all of his employer's rules and regulations and "borrows" a confiscated BMW to impress the attractive student Maria. She is very impressed, not only by the fancy car, but also by the fact that Serafim is a real cop. When Serafim accidentally gets on the trail of a crime and Maria sees him at work, his reputation with her increases considerably...

In the 1930s, the Soviet ship "Chelyuskin" embarked on an expedition to the Northern Ocean. But soon there is an accident in the ice and the team can save themselves on an ice floe. Two months, the over one hundred people have to persevere there until rescue from the air finally approaches.

The successful entertainment artist Ralf Keul must develop his land on the Baltic Sea or else ultimately give it up. Inexperienced yet courageous, he hurls himself into the undertaking, which spares him no unpleasantness. He battles over the transportation and procurement of materials, constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, while his craftsmen offer little additional assistance.

Karl becomes a father earlier than expected - at the same time as the delivery of his car. Chaos is bound to break out...

Old Otto Gratzick is a porter at DEFA and a great admirer of Asta Nielsen. When the famous actor Hermann Gschwindner dies shortly before the end of his film, the director is looking for a double for the final scenes and discovers Otto in the movie theater, who has just been moved by Asta again. Otto takes on the task. He also places a marriage advertisement looking for a woman who resembles Asta. The first date with Astrid, who does indeed look like Asta, is a flop. Otto falls asleep. He tries again with her - as Hermann Gschwindner - and is successful. He is recognized in a hotel bar and asked to perform a song. Everyone, including Astrid, is entranced. After a few complications, his real identity is revealed - Astrid had also done a lot of work to look like Asta.

A film gala featuring a colorfully mixed program of musical numbers, along with the most popular artists of the GDR music, film and television scenes. The majority of the show is comprised of music performances, which are visually altered or transformed. Cabaret-style written contributions and one acts round out the program. Before each performance, the artists involved are seen in an everyday situation in their life.