When he sails on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean, emotionally blank American engineer Walter Faber (Sam Shephard) embarks on an affair with a vivacious young German lass (Julie Delpy) who reawakens long-dormant passions within him, and the pair traipse across Europe. But soon an episode from Faber's dark past threatens to destroy the lovers' newfound bliss. Volker Schlöndorff directs this drama that co-stars Barbara Sukowa.