Margot (Margit Carstensen), a middle-class German housewife, has recently had her second child. When she becomes plagued by a variety of ailments, including blurred vision and anxiety, she tries to explain these problems to her husband and family, but is met with incredulity, indifference and even anger. Turning to alcohol and drugs to ease her pain, Margot begins a quick descent into depression and addiction as her loved ones barely notice.