In 1916, the officer of the German secret service Elsbeth Schragmüller trains the end-of-career exotic dancer Mata Hari as secret agent. Schragmüller has finally an ear directly in the influential circles of Paris, while Mata Hari can uphold her mundane life despite lack of engagements. Both have great hope for this intelligence mission.

Heligoland, April 18, 1947: Preparations for one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history are almost complete. The British want to raze the island to the ground with more than 6,000 tons of explosives - nothing should remind of the sea fortress with its air raid shelters and anti-aircraft systems, with the submarine bunker and naval port. The Heligolanders have been evacuated and are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the “Big Bang” in Hamburg and Cuxhaven, on Sylt, in Schleswig and Wilhelmshaven. Will they ever be able to set foot on the red rock again - or will the island's history come to an end in an explosion that historians will later measure as the size of atomic bombs?

Lukas and Adam are best friends and roommates on the Hamburger Kiez. Lukas, single-minded, clever and creative, is well on the way to making a career in an advertising agency. Adam, a charming hothead, tries in vain to gain a foothold in the Hamburg film industry. He still holds on to their shared childhood dream, one day to found a film production with Lukas. Lukas, on the other hand, prefers to avoid professional collaboration with his chaotic friend.

Twelve-year-old Luca steals away from her family and the daily struggle with her autistic sister. While wandering through her new neighbourhood, she befriends a girl from a farm and pins all her hopes on this new friendship.