Segunda Guerra Mundial, 1942. O filme traz um retrato da Batalha de Stalingrado vista pelos olhos dos alemães. A história segue um grupo de soldados alemães, desde o fronte italiano no verão de 1942 até as estepes congeladas da Rússia soviética e terminando com a batalha por Stalingrado. Através deles são mostrados os horrores da guerra, o medo, a esperança e todas as emoções dos combatentes envolvidos. Uma descrição da brutal batalha de Stalingrado, a "Waterloo" do Terceiro Reich, vista pelos olhos do oficial alemão Hans von Witzland e por seu batalhão.
This downbeat, grim drama about three brothers who are reunited at their mother's funeral is actually visually as dark as its story, making it difficult at times to clearly distinguish a scene. These brothers are not particularly exceptional as people go, but at least they have branched out into separate vocations in their lives. One brother is a doctor, another is a criminal, and the third is a bus driver. Like others in Europe, they suffered through World War II, yet no matter what their backgrounds and experiences, their interpersonal relationships are not exactly gripping drama.
Tram driver Marie has far too much to do after her shift is over. But she likes to do it all since she loves her husband Václav sincerely. One day she spots him on the Lesser Town Square in Prague, kissing an attractive blonde good-bye. It seems to Marie that her small comfortable world has collapsed and she walks out of the tram in tears. But her sadness does not last long. She wipes off the tears and begins to act. She withdraws all the money from their savings books and buys off all the latest models from the Fashion Works. The visit to the beauty salon then completes her transformation into a lady.
