East Berlin, 1987.
Alex is a talented saxophonist, flirting with 'Western' jazz as well as girls. When he meets Nicky - a beautiful English girl visiting East Berlin as an au pair - she makes him feel that his dreams could become reality.
Detlev's love for his country has always been enough for him, until Alex makes him feel things he never thought possible. But what use is his passion when its object doesn't even know he exists?
As Alex meets a new group of musicians, he moves closer to influences considered subversive by a state that has eyes and ears everywhere - and Detlev's unrequited feelings threaten to endanger them all.