故事发生在1563年的法国，在新教徒和天主教徒之间，爆发了一场旷日持久的激烈战争。亨利（朱利安·波义塞利尔 Julien Boisselier 饰）身为新教首领，需要抵抗的是强大的皇太后凯瑟琳（桑德拉·惠勒 Sandra Hüller 饰）。为了平息战争，王室决定牺牲公主玛格丽特（阿赫麦勒·德意志 Armelle Deutsch 饰），将她许配给亨利。
然而，这一切都是凯瑟琳一手策划的阴谋。就在亨利和玛格丽特成婚当夜，凯瑟琳拉响了警钟，指挥军队对国内的新教徒们进行了一场惨无人道的血腥屠杀。幸运的是，亨利在屠杀中逃过一劫，并且凭借着努力和运气，成为了最终的胜利者，开创了波旁王朝，留名青史。

The Polish woman Wanda, 35, looks after Joseph, 70, in his family villa by the lake. She is there for him around the clock and also helps his wife Elsa, 75. The youngest son Gregi, 28, likes her very much. The work is poorly paid, but Wanda needs the money for her own family in Poland. Since everyone lives under one roof, Wanda gets an intimate view of their family life. So intimate that Wanda unexpectedly becomes pregnant.

Christian is a presenter at a small radio station. His wife Katrin directs traffic in a car park. Both are friends with Uwe, who runs a fast food kiosk, and Ellen, who works in a perfume shop. Their four lives are stuck in a rut. Until the day Chris and Ellen sleep together and upset the balance of the two couples...

Frank and Simone have fulfilled a dream and live with their two children in a row house in the suburbs. They are a happy couple, until the day Frank is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The family is suddenly confronted with death.