Michael Berg, un noi de 15 anys que torna de l'escola a casa, perd el coneixement. Hanna Schmitz, una dona que li dobla d'edat, l'ajuda. D'aquesta manera, entre tots dos sorgeix un apassionat idil·li que mantindran en secret. Un dia, Hanna desapareix misteriosament. Vuit anys més tard, Michael estudia Dret i torna a trobar Hanna en una situació que mai no hauria imaginat.
Jocs Olímpics de Munic del 1972. A la matinada del 5 de setembre, onze atletes olímpics israelians són segrestats per un comando terrorista palestí denominat 'Setembre Negre'. Amenacen de matar-los tots si no es produeix l'alliberament de presos palestins per part d'Israel. Durant 21 hores el món sencer va estar pendent del tràgic succés.
In a small area of West Germany, the American military presence opened up a new world in the early 1950s and paved the way for individual freedom, freedom of movement and capitalism in Germany. In this time of upheaval, two friends are looking for their place and have to fight time and again with the 'old order', the conservative forces from politics, church and society. Confronted with the seductions of the new world, the two dissimilar women make an opposing development that puts their intimate friendship to a severe test ...
West Germany, 1987. The politician Uwe Barschel (1944-87), member of the Christian Democratic Union party and Minister-President of the Schleswig-Holstein region, is found dead in very sinister circumstances. Reporter David Burger pledges to find the truth behind one of the most important political scandals in German history, investigating countless speculations and conspiracy theories as he fights his own personal demons.
