A very skilful young architect from Berlin, Lea Winter, who has a promising career, is pregnant with Klaus Arnheim, her head of department, a long-time lover but married and father of a family. At the announcement of this unexpected pregnancy, of course, he only envisages abortion for Lea. However, the young woman hesitates. On the advice of her gynecologist, she decides to leave Ireland for a few days to think and make a decision without any pressure. She finds there a simple, authentic life and is confronted with another rhythm of life, with other values and with herself.
The attractive young Franka runs the traditional porcelain manufactory Rhomberg with her father. In contrast to her fun-loving sister Joe, the sensible Franka has no time for men. That changes when she meets the sensitive, good-looking Luca - who unfortunately has just married her "best enemy" Nathalie. Franka suddenly has to fight against unfamiliar feelings. Joe falls seriously in love too, but is the easy-going bartender Marco the right one for her? The lives of the two sisters are turned upside down.
Natalie (Anne-Sophie Briest) has found a job and a new love. She meets her 14-year-old Miriam, who risks being under the influence of Natalie's ex-pimp. Natalie and the computer nerd Sven research a child pornography ring.
Based on the classic 19th century tale by German writer/composer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the film investigates the tale's themes of obsession and madness, emphasizing expressionist imagery and theatrical style. The story relates the life of the young student Nathanael, whose childhood memories are haunted by a sinister man. As a child, Nathanael believed this dark figure to be the mythic Sandman, who puts children to sleep by stealing their eyes. When confronted by this same evil presence as an adult, he is pushed toward madness as he tries to confront his childhood fears.
