The young Friedrich Schiller begins his life as a poet with a dramatic escape. After the sensational success of his first drama "The Robbers", he deserts from the Duke's army. At the Mannheim Court and National Theatre, he initially receives a friendly reception, but his new play "Fiesko" is not well received by the artistic director Dalberg. In the successful actor and author August Wilhelm Iffland, Schiller finds a strong competitor for the position of in-house playwright and vies with him for the love of the same woman. The young poet's situation becomes increasingly precarious; he has no money, suffers from hunger and falls seriously ill. Nevertheless, he works feverishly for recognition and success with no regard for his own health.
as Friedrich Schiller
as Katharina Baumann
as August Wilhelm Iffland
as Wolfgang von Dalberg
as Andreas Streicher
as Caroline Wiethoeft
as Buchhändler Schwan
as Beck
as Tänzer
as Frau Toscani
as Scharffenstein
as Caspar Schiller
as Kurfürstin
as Arzt
