Christine is a young farm worker in a small village in post-war Germany. Her attempts to improve her situation through further education are hampered by frequent pregnancies arising from ill-fated relationships. Her motley boyfriends include a fairground cashier who leaves more than one love-struck girl behind once the fair leaves town, a high-level functionary from Berlin who keeps his marriage secret from Christine, and a Catholic who refuses to marry so he can become a priest.

After Christine's fourth partner takes her savings and runs off to West Berlin on their wedding day, the director of the farming collective sends Christine back to school. There, she meets a kindly teacher who helps her with her studies - and soon becomes the father of her next child. Will this relationship turn out differently from the others?