This tragic love story relates ten decisive years in the life of the great Romantic poet Friedrich Hölderlin, played by a young Ulrich Mühe.

The main character Otto, the "best man", is a copy of the illustrious Mister Bean. He takes on an apprenticeship as a building-worker, which makes him a member of a building brigade. At the same time Otto tries to start a love affair, which he handles even clumsier. Never the less Otto makes progress with the lady in question, a single mother, who apparently doesn't mind. Actually he wanted her sister, but a retired Leninist party member changes his mind. This gives him the courage to persevere in his work, albeit with the helping hand of the obligatory retired party member. And behold, in the end Otto invents a new method of building, which saves the brigade many hours of work.

A police woman goes undercover and enters a kamasutra retreat whose leader has been murdered by an ancient Indian dagger. As she makes new friends, she finds herself entagled in a web of intrigues.

Marie is fed up with always serving men as a fling. Now she wants to turn the tables and gets herself two male creatures: she regularly has wild sex with the muscular construction worker Frank, while pianist Alyosha is there for the romantic hours. But Marie develops more feelings for both of them over time, which is not her only problem, because the two lovers also happen to share the same apartment...

The nurses and friends Anna and Annette grow desperate over men and love. At the hospital, Anna has fallen in love with Markus, whom she lovingly calls "moose", but they only meet twice a year, when Markus has time for her. In the meantime, she keeps afloat with flights of fancy. Meanwhile, Annette clings to the painter Ludwig who cannot stand such a close relationship. Through Annette and Ludwig, Anna meets an attractive married man but her high spirits do not last long.

Fabian and Jana just wanted to hitch a ride to Italy, but this little arrogant prick in his Jeep really didn't deserve any better. First he almost runs them over, then he tries to blame them. So they do what (almost) everbody would have done: Fabian and Jana steal his car. Although a couple of miles later they make an unpleasant discovery: the arrogant prick's girlfriend is sleeping off her marijuana flush in the back seat. And she's holding her boyfriend's gun.

Philipp, a closeted teacher, is dating a female colleague to keep up appearances. One night he stumbles into a gay bar and falls for a man. Transformed by this love, he is no longer afraid to face up to who he is.

25-year-old electrician Thomas Tänzer is happily escaping the provincial confines of everyday life in the GDR – to the desert, to work in Algeria. Behind him lie a failed marriage and abandoned studies. But he can't cope in Algeria either. The rules have traveled with him – in the form of his superiors. Unordered solidarity, his relationship with the married Doris, and similar issues cause him difficulties. His father falls seriously ill, and he cuts short his stay abroad. At home, he realizes that his wife and child have become complete strangers to him. Doris, his "Algerian affair," now has a child by him, but treats him coldly. He makes a half-hearted suicide attempt by car, which he survives. When he hears about a disaster in Algeria, he volunteers for service, but is not accepted because of his poor personnel file.