In Reichenbach, the political world still seems to be in order. There is exactly one social democratic vote in every election. Naturally, people think they know who this incorrigible person is. But when old Querdenke is buried, things get complicated. A letter is found in his estate that causes Mayor Singhammer a great deal of embarrassment. It is said to be the result of an affair between his mother and the recently deceased old man. And he threatens to reveal this secret posthumously if Singhammer doesn't parry. A letter to this effect has been deposited with the notary. The scandal can be avoided if a "red" vote is cast in every election from now on.

Between 1924 and 1934, six children grow up in an apartment building in the Munich suburbs. Among them is the rather inconspicuous and melancholy Leo Knie, who has been in love with the pretty Marilli Kosemund since early childhood. Marilli is not averse to the young man's advances, but she wants to be conquered. But that is exactly what shy Leo finds difficult. So he escapes into harmless dancing with his buddies, pursues other girls - rather unsuccessfully - and resigns himself to his predetermined fate.

The children Sonja and Helmut Schmitt have lost their parents in a car accident. At first, their grandmother takes over the supervision and care of the two. When she no longer can take care of that due to her health, mayor and brewery operator Gassner provides them a new home. By doing this, he secures respect and approval in the village. What really happened isn’t suspected by anyone: The egocentric Gassner let his underage daughter drive his deregistered, medium-green old Mercedes. During that ride without a license, she caused the accident and forced her father to do an outwardly “good deed”. Because, if the truth came to light, Gassner would have to fear a defeat in the upcoming mayoral elections and damage to his reputation.

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.

The case of stagecoach robber Carl Grandison, who lived in Heidelberg as a respected merchant and committed suicide in prison in 1814, as material for an expensive (DM 5.1 million), over-aestheticized flashback film: the decorations, props and costumes are right, otherwise everything seems fake.