Helen Woigk

Kingdom of Hungary, 17th century. As she gets older, powerful Countess Erzsébet Báthory (1560-1614), blinded by the passion that she feels for a younger man, succumbs to the mad delusion that blood will keep her young and beautiful forever.

Reduce the world's population by 50 percent to save the planet? That's a great idea, say politicians, experts and ordinary people from the street. But who should go? A fictional documentary about the abysses of our civil society.

In the late 70s, young Petra Grust begins teaching at the progressive Odenwald School. She is flattered by the trust placed in her by its widely respected headmaster Simon Pistorius. But gradually certain incidents at the boarding school begin to unsettle her. Petra then realizes that Pistorius is abusing Frank, a 13-year-old. When Frank is told that he has to spend school holidays with Pistorius, he tries to commit suicide. Petra tells Frank's father (the chairman of the school's governing body) but he believes Pistorius instead of his own son. Petra fails to convince people of the man's true nature. 30 years later, Frank goes to Petra, who has long since left the school and has stopped teaching altogether. He has never been able to speak about what happened but now, after the suicide of another pupil, he is no longer willing to remain silent. He wants Petra to bear witness at the school's forthcoming anniversary celebrations.

Fidi is aimlessly hitchhiking on a snowy winter's night and ends up being seduced by Nona into murdering several innocent bystanders.

Eight-year-old Jana desperately needs a heart donor. But the months pass and there is no suitable organ. Out of desperation, her father Micha - against the advice of the doctors and the will of his wife - turns to illegal organ traders.

Germany, 1967. Ruby & Martin, a young couple, are rehearsing their uprising. The price is high: expulsion from school, parental violence, and ultimately institutionalization. But they are ready to take on the cause of love.

Catrin wants to know it again: With over 40 she dared to jump back to the University of Marburg. The married mother wants to finish her medical studies, which she stopped many years ago because of her pregnancy. The classmates on campus are relaxed in the age of their children. Her husband Frank feels left sitting in Berlin. And after a fierce flirtation with an attractive student, her marriage is finally in crisis. Nevertheless, Catrin is determined to make her dream come true. Better late than never.

Max Krenke, once a promising journalist, has made himself comfortable at a third-rate newspaper; as a husband and family man, he keeps the hamster wheel of everyday life running. Until he is laid off without notice on his 45th birthday of all days.