The relationship between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great German writer, and Christiane Vulpius, a village girl, is one of the instantaneous and fiery passion. They lived together for 28 years, 18 of these living in sin, 10 a married couple. Christiane's rival, Charlotte von Stein, a former favorite of Goethe, begins plotting and scheming against her. Christiane puts up with countless insults and humiliations like having to 'disappear' with their son into the servants' quarters and to stay at home on official occasions. Goethe marries her when she saves his life during an attack by plundering Napoleonic soldiers. Her new social position as Goethe's wife is resented and envied by all. When she is openly attacked by the snooty, jealous people, Goethe is only half-hearted in coming to her defence. But she stays with him for he is her great love, even when she turns to the charms of many youthful admirers...
as Christiane Vulpius
as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
as Charlotte von Stein
as Herzog Carl August
as Charlotte Lengefeld-Schiller
as Christian August Vulpius
as Fritz von Stein
as Christoph Martin Wieland
as Hans-Heinrich Meyer
as Tante Juliane
as Ernestine
as Paul Goetze / Diener Geist / neuer Diener / Seidel
as Friedrich Wilhelm Riemer
as Bettina Brentano
as August Goethe, erwachsen
as Marschall Michel Ney
as Arzt
as Dienerin Helene
