East Prussia in January 1945: Hundreds of thousands of people flee westward from the Russians. However, the beautiful Katharina von Globig, mistress of the Georgenhof estate, turns a blind eye to reality. She retreats into her refuge of books, music, and dreams. When the village pastor asks her to hide a persecuted man for one night, she agrees. Shortly thereafter, the man is captured, and Katharina is arrested. The deceptive idyll is shattered. With their belongings in tow, the rest of the family sets off. The great escape turns into a nightmare.