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Paul (Herbert Stass), a widowed East German railroad worker, has retired at the age of 65 and goes to West Germany to live with his sister, the two of them were very close when they were young and it was natural for him to think of her on his retirement. The sister Hilde (Ilsemarie Schnering) is a widow herself and the siblings will try to make a go of it, even though they have a lot to learn about each other's cultural experience over the years. For example, Paul brought all his savings with him, 10,000 East German marks, but he has no idea how little the money is worth until he sees the cost of living in West Germany. He keeps up contact with his former friends, and when one comes to visit, the truth about the gaps between east and west is brought home again. These cultural issues continue until at one point when Paul is on a vacation trip with his sister he feels like he has wasted his entire life -- and takes it out on the understanding and sympathetic Hilde. But after all is said and done, brother and sister -- East and West Germany incarnate -- have a bond that proves stronger than any differences between them.