After 20 years and with their children gone, Georg and Charlotte face unexpected distance. Charlotte, eager to enjoy newfound freedom, clashes with Georg, who withdraws into solitude. Their once-solid marriage frays as each insists on personal plans, leaving longtime friends Peter and Christa to watch the uneasy drift.

Christian knows what is important in life. At the age of 19, he knows how to be successful. He feels superior to his best friend, a dreamy music student, but also to his lazy brother. Then he meets Maria, who lives in a shack and makes no secret of her chaotic lifestyle.