This pessimistic and tedious Teutonic drama concerns a family struggling to survive after the death of the father. Left behind is a simple-minded mother (Edith Heedegen), strong-willed but sickly daughter Josefine (Libgart Schwarz), another sister, and a mentally challenged brother with a pronounced limp. Josefine steps up to take charge of the family, making her other sister the maid and forcing her brother to live in the basement.