Alex Kerner's mother was in a coma while the Berlin wall fell. When she wakes up he must try to keep her from learning what happened (as she was an avid communist supporter) to avoid shocking her which could lead to another heart attack.
The film tells a little-known story from the large stock of doping scandals in GDR competitive sports. Katharina Bullin was a volleyball player who not only lost her femininity but also her physical stability through sports and the drugs administered to her.