In the late 1950s, Sebastian Fußberg (Franciszek Pieczka) travels through the country performing traditional puppet shows. Although the old man is a dreamer and idealist at heart, he cannot come to terms with the shadows of his past in a concentration camp.

Sebastian is joined by two young people: Achim, the grandson of an old friend who died in the camp, and Marianne, a girl who is unhappy about the future awaiting her at her job. Achim and Marianne struggle to understand Sebastian's inner conflict and feelings of guilt.

In the end, he is the only one who can free himself from his own painful history.