In 1983 East Berlin, dedicated Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler begins spying on a famous playwright and his actress-lover Christa-Maria. Wiesler becomes unexpectedly sympathetic to the couple, and faces conflicting loyalties when his superior takes a liking to Christa-Maria.

影片根据西格弗里德·伦茨的中篇小说《默哀时刻》改编。波罗的海海边捕鱼小镇的夏末，十八岁的高中男生克里斯蒂安爱上了新来的英语老师斯黛拉•彼得森。懵懂澄澈的心刚刚开始描摹未来的图景，两人也在旁人的怀疑与议论中愈走愈近。就在克里斯蒂安精心计划着两人未来的时候，后者遭遇的一场船 难忽然让一切激情与浪漫消散在咸涩的海风中。在痛苦和随之而来的恐惧伴随下，少年试着寻回永远逝去的爱情。