In 1936, aspiring writer Anders, along with his friend Sixten, is desperate to escape his working-class upbringing. Anders' father is an unemployed alcoholic and his mother slaves away at a laundry to support the family. A ray of hope comes Anders' way when he finishes his first novel and submits it to a publisher. But after his girlfriend gets pregnant, his future dims before his eyes once more.

When an inspector is murdered in hospital, the investigation led by Detective Martin Beck uncovers reports of misconduct and possibly revenge.

A tale of a young woman, Britt, who has two flings, but finds herself with difficult decisions when she finds herself pregnant.

Famous acrobat Elvira Madigan meets Sixten Sparre, a married Swedish officer with two children. They decide to elope, but since Sparre deserted the army, he's unemployable and the couple encounter various hardships.

A filmmaker has problems coping with his wife and marriage, with his daughter being their only connecting link. Seeking a meaningful connection and intimacy elsewhere, a married woman becomes his short-term partner.

The documentary chronicles Bo Widerberg's journey from 1960s Malmö, where he worked as a writer and film critic, to his successes as a director in Stockholm and international adventures in Cannes and New York. The film also explores the personal costs of his artistic vision and how his pursuit of life and authenticity affected both himself and those around him.