Dr. Theresa Wolff returns to her hometown to become Head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Jena, where she assists the police in murder investigations using both her gift for forensics and her good sense of humor.

The film depicts the life of the middle-class Kempowski family in Rostock between 1939 and 1945 in great detail and closely following the novel on which it is based. In addition to describing the special events in Walter's life and in the family, there are also repeated depictions of everyday life, such as walks with his father through Rostock, at school and in youth groups, with friends and swing music, at family meals and Christmas celebrations, at church or at the cinema. Father Karl loves cigars from the company "Loeser & Wolff," which always prompts him to say "impeccable, more impeccable, Tadellöser and Wolff" when praising them.

Kata, in her 20s, loses her boyfriend and her job on the same day. She's been indulging in fantasies of a more thrilling romantic life, and the cold water of being alone and unemployed doesn't entirely dampen her imagination. She's egged on by three girlfriends who get together to talk about men and sex. Kata has possibilities: she meets David, a medical student; there's Tamás, a stranger on a train who might be good for a relationship and a job. There's also Miki, her brother who's had serious drug problems. Is fulfillment within her grasp?

The newly-crowned Maria Theresa gives birth to her child in a public celebration surrounded by intriguing politicians and baronesses, while the neighboring powers send a declaration of war to the young monarch.