Weinachten 1971: Die siebenjährige Kimîa bekommt eine Super 8-Kamera geschenkt. Durch die neue Kamera beobachtet sie ihre Mutter Hanna, die von ihrem Ehemann mit dem überraschenden Plan konfrontiert wird bald in seine Heimat, den Iran, zu ziehen. Großmutter Hilde will den Umzug ihrer Tochter und Enkelin mit allen Mitteln verhindern. Hanna kämpft zwischen den Fronten um ihre Rolle als junge Mutter.

The "Schwitzkasten" is a sleazy sauna located in a undistinguished neighborhood in Berlin, Germany where several persons are used to meet day by day, discussing their personal problems and feelings.

A young man from an early age falls in love with a girl whose family is not in good standing with the ruling Communist party. His father however is a member of the "Stasi", the secret state police. The father not only hinders his son's relationship with the girl, but he arranges for his son, after finishing school, to become a Stasi spy himself.