In 1964, young Julia Welling is sent to Bavaria to create and manage a home for children. For the past of her father (a member of the Nazi party) Julia now defends the values of democracy and wants children to be treated like whole persons. Her first days in Bavaria are difficult because the people are very conservative: when she notices some parents beating their children, she steps in and they don't understand her intervention. She meets a young American officer who is organizing the end of US occupation forces in Germany; he helps her get a former military installator for her new children's home. She manages to install the home and begin her activities, but one night a violent farmer tries to burn down the building because she has protected his son.

Jolene is supposed to please a customer in her trailer - a somewhat cocky man who is accompanied by an Asian man. But while the suitor is having fun with Jolene, the Asian slits his throat. When Jolene's pimp bursts into the scene, the situation escalates completely.

Jessi is eleven and longs to go back to the place where she spent her early childhood. She has an important role to play in the life of her mother, who has been in prison for several months. Since her older sister Bibi broke off all contact with their mother Jessi is now her mother’s only contact to the outside world.

A political activist falsly accused of being a terrorist is put into prison by a government hoping to gain information by subjecting him to chemical waterboarding.