When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.

A look at German sensitivities: the film adaptation of Helmut Krausser's bestseller Einsamkeit und Sex und Mitleid focuses on a motley crew of urbanites, all trying to cope with their romantic problems. Retired teacher Ecki runs an "anger...