It is 1943--the height of the Second World War. With the men away at the front, Berlin has become a city of women. On the surface, Sigrid Schroder is the model German soldier's wife: She goes to work every day, does as much with her rations as she can, and dutifully cares for her meddling mother-in-law, all the while ignoring the horrific immoralities of the regime.