Jim, a discharged sergeant, arrives in New York to find his mother has died. Grieving, he meets Elena at a bar. She offers him a place to stay, but he's too tired to respond. The next morning, Jim's childhood dream comes true.
Carpenter Maria Abeler is supposed to take over her father's carpentry business and start a family with her longtime boyfriend Steffen, at least if Volker and Steffen have their way. When journeyman Cem turns up at the carpentry workshop, Maria decides to join Cem on a three-year journey against the wishes of her father and her boyfriend
Salzburg. A few weeks before Christmas. Franz, in his late forties, secretly dreams of a career as a rock guitarist, but in real life he ekes out an unsuccessful existence as a music teacher. In addition, his marriage to Linn is in deep crisis and the pubescent daughter Julie hardly speaks to her parents.