Harald Holst

In a Danish village in the early 1600s, a young woman named Anne, whose mother was thought to be a witch, develops sympathy toward an old woman, Marte, who is accused of witchcraft. The intervention of Anne's older but kindly husband, Pastor Absalon saved her mother -- but now, urged on by his overbearing mother, he refuses to help Marte. When Absalon's son returns home and is attracted to Anne, it's a matter of time before her family destiny catches up with her.

The rich couple Jytte and Ole spend their lives partying and having fun. After another evening and night of partying, the couple decides to get divorced. The next day they tell Uncle Frederik, who instead proposes a bet: for a year, Jytte and Ole will live on 400,- DKK a month, so that they can experience how ordinary people live. They agree to the proposal and move into a small apartment. Gradually, they learn to cope, but give up the bet after a month. When Ole tells Uncle Frederik that they don't want to be with him anymore, Frederik unfortunately has to tell them that he has ruined their fortune. When Ole gets home, he learns that Jytte is pregnant. This changes their lives to a great extent - Jytte and Ole have suddenly found meaning in life.

Anders returns to Denmark to visit his ill mom too late. Her lawyer tells him he's the illegitimate child of an estate owner. He goes there incognito and works on the big farm and falls for the maid and later for a gold digger.

In the idyllic provincial town of Gammelkøbing lives Emanuel Thomsen, known as Thummelumsen. It is his great dream to buy the Møllegården, which was once owned by the family, and for 15 years he has been scrimping and saving to get by. In the meantime, he has been followed by several hopeful female glances, because even though Thummelumsen is no Adonis, he is full of energy. And when one day he wins 12,500 kroner in the lottery, everything seems to be going well. But then the bag is shaken once again...

At the Copenhagen Conservatory of Music, Mogens Birk passes his organ exam with distinction. Together with his brother Steen Birk, he has supported himself during his studies by playing in the city's small taverns. Editor Jepsen from Bollerupager attends the exam, with a view to hiring a new organist for the city. At the parish council meeting, Consul Møller's daughter Kirsten, who was educated in Paris, is nominated, but Jepsen has Mogens as his candidate for the position, and he gets the job.

A picture of the life of the Danish people from the late 1820s to the introduction of the free constitution in 1849. A fictional character, Rasmus Nielsen, travels around the country, first as a traveling teacher, later in other positions, and through his experiences we are introduced to the conditions of various population groups. The central figure in the portrayal of historical figures is the politician Orla Lehmann.

The small local train trundles laboriously into Torslev station. The stationmaster is standing on the platform wearing slippers, waiting for the train. When it stops, it turns out that there is only one passenger on board. A younger, strange-looking, elegantly dressed man steps onto the platform with a couple of suitcases with lots of nice brands from foreign countries. The man's name is Nelson. Many years ago he went abroad. Now he is returning home to see how things are in his hometown.

There has just been a funeral. Outside the cemetery, the family members are standing and discussing how much their deceased great-uncle, the rich toy manufacturer Th. Olsen, has left behind. The family is waiting for little Cornelius Nielsen, who is always late. When he appears, a lively discussion begins about who Uncle Theobald has appointed as heir.