During the Cold War, many of those who tried to flee westward across the dangerous and blurred line separating communist Czechoslovakia from freedom were gunned down: the story of Europe's deadliest border.

Luxurious Danube river cruiser "Kriemhild", on a 2 day tour from Vienna to Belgrade. The ship "Kriemhild" is a floating sin city. Exhausted, unhappy, frustrated people from western Europe come here to "relax" and conduct business with alcohol, entertainment and sex. The crew of the "Kriemhild" are young people from eastern Europe who are trying to earn enough money to escape their small insignificant lives. That one night on this ship will shuffle the hands of fate of both the passengers and the crew of the ship. Prejudices, stereotypes and lack of communication between men and women, people of different religions, nationalities and social statutes will lead to absurd and, at times, dangerous situations, all colored with elements of dark humor. The night will unveil pain and tears, happiness and laughter.

Petra Hoffmann is in her early 50s and pregnant. She is not carrying her own child though, but that of her daughter. Midwife Lena Lorenz has been looking after mother and daughter for a while and the pregnancy has been unproblematic thus far, but shortly before the birth the family starts to break apart.

The former professional footballer Alex Brehm has taken care of his daughter Charlie since the accidental death of his wife. The girl suffers greatly from the loss of her beloved mother, but is an avid footballer and finds distraction from her grief, at least for a short while. Also, she is "completely the daddy" - until Alex learns one day after a blood test of his daughter that neither he nor his deceased wife Charlie's biological parents can be.

Mid-19th-century, Baltic Sea port city of Lubeck, Germany. Follows the fourth generation of the Buddenbrook mercantile family as Tony and Thomas reach the age of marriage. Fatefully impeded every step of the way, the Buddenbrooks struggle as economic hardship and personal defeats weigh down family relations.