The GDR in 1974: The Wall has stood for 13 years and more out of defiance than conviction Alexander Karow (Jacob Matschenz) declares himself ready for military service at the „anti-fascist protective wall“. He rebels against his father (Burghart Klaußner), a famous professor of chemistry, and exchanges his sheltered home for the not always comradely barracks life. Especially the rough corporal Kerner (Max Riemelt) prepares him for difficulties because of his privileged origin and fully lives out his sadism. Alexander finds comfort in Christine (Bernadette Heerwagen), who runs a farm near the border together with her grandmother (Jutta Hoffmann) and her brother Knut (Frederick Lau). Happiness, however, is short-lived. Knut’s blatant opposition to the SED regime puts him in danger. Wanda must act before State Security intervenes and has Knut convicted. In need she entrusts herself to Alexander and asks him to do an almost impossible service of love…