East Germany, in autumn 1999. Gudrun Pfaff is about to turn sixty. Since her childhood in the local orphanage, Gudrun has shown unequalled devotion to her home town. At her party, Gudrun learns that the mayor intends to sell “her” orphanage to a Western German investor. Social-minded as Gudrun is toward outsiders, she is tough and demanding on her daughter, Lara. In the middle of the night, she confronts the mayor. Their differences, from personal experiences in the aftermath of German reunification, fuel a huge row. This culminates in Gudrun propositioning the mayor (who once showed an interest in Gudrun): sex in exchange for the orphanage. But the mayor is indignant. The townspeople, meanwhile, show nothing but contempt for her. They all want the new hotel. In the end, Lara and Gudruns husband Werner, and a final deed, are all that can help broken Gudrun.