An old donkey resolves to break away from the unbearable hardships of working for a fat miller. By and by, he recruits three more unsatisfied animals and convinces them to accompany him on his way to Bremen where they want to become musicians.

1964. Germany is divided into two states. On a fateful day, two trucks drive towards each other. One comes from the west and transports industrial goods to Berlin. The other comes from the east and has a far more explosive cargo: four people who can no longer bear the inhumane SED regime and want to escape to freedom in an armored vehicle. The occupants of the trucks are still unaware of each other, but fate is driving them inexorably towards each other. They meet at the Wartha border crossing. The East German border guards order the West German truck drivers Lindner and Bleicher to park their truck across the road to stop the fugitives.

The young Monika Dahlhoff returns from the USA after two years. As soon as she arrives, she learns that her father wants to sell his traditional stud farm, because he has quarreled with the members of the equestrian club. Accordingly annoyed is the old Dahlhoff, when his daughter just fell in love with the son of his greatest enemy. In the annual "Hubertusjagd" there is a dramatic encounter between the men.