This is a family story that covers thirty years in the life of the Freytag family (narrated by the grandson, Robert). When his grandfather returns from Russia in 1949, he becomes part of the German "economic miracle" by producing garden gnomes. Klaus, Robert's father, wants to become a writer. He marries Gisela who almost immediately gets pregnant with Robert - but the marriage doesn't work. Both parents abandon the child, and Robert goes on living with both pairs of grand parents. While his father belongs to the 1968 generation that rebels against their fathers he falls in love with the neighbor's's daughter Laura.

After five years in prison, Ellen is ‘’out’’ and ready to come to terms with her past. She begins by looking for Katrin, who was present the night of the crime. Hearing Katrin’s voice on the radio and learning that she is a DJ at a local nightclub, Ellen decides to go and wait for her at the door. At first, Katrin is frightened and does not want anything to do with Ellen. However Ellen persists. Flashbacks fill in the history of Katrin’s relationship with an abusive husband and her intimate relationship with Ellen. It soon becomes clear that Ellen’s devotion for Katrin is no less potent than before. Gradually Katrin yields to Ellen’s wishes. Before long, past events catch up with them an unexpected sting in the tail reveals a major twist.

Single mother Maria falls from the clouds when the police come: She does not believe for a second that her son, Matis could have killed the pretty Lea from next door. He is in his early 20s, but still thinks and feels like a child - right? After his arrest, Simon finds a sex booklet belongs to him that the bus driver Bacher sold him. Matis actually makes a confession, to which, however, the psychologist Benjamin doubts. In the meantime, mother Maria is investigating on her own. The thriller gradually increases its level and excitement.

After Sam, a penniless Afro-German singer, discovers he's HIV positive, he gets utterly drunk, spends a few miserable days, but promptly falls (back) in love. Amidst a crumbling former East Berlin (its bulidings, cars, people & culture), Sam develops a "family" for the new millenium, for the new generation of post-drug cocktail AIDS victims. The fragile "family" he forms includes his on-again-off-again boyfriend Rainer, and his best friend Bastl with his latest fling, Mike. Like the old, schmaltzy East German songs which Sam is recording, the sweet innocence of the characters struggle to prevail, the misfortunes of the characters nothwithstanding.

In Königswald Castle, eight noble old ladies and their maid are waiting for the end of World War II. Princess Ursela has made arrangements with her grandmother, the Countesses Hohenlohe, Dohna, Posadowsky, and Woronzoff, as well as Baroness Schweinitz and Baroness von Boehme. The Americans are advancing on the castle from one side, while the Russians are approaching from the other. Suddenly, however, Wehrmacht soldiers barricade themselves in the castle to defend it. But the old ladies do not want to be defended, lest they risk the destruction of their beloved castle. So they hatch a crazy plan to get rid of the German soldiers...