影片由奥斯卡·罗勒根据由他自己创作的小说《出身》改编成电影。故事的时间跨度从二战结束后的1949年一直延续到80年代，讲述了联邦德国一个家庭祖孙三代人的故事。罗伯特·弗赖塔格(雷纳德·施莱舍)的祖父埃里希(约根·沃格尔)，一个战俘，在逃亡中将自己的妻子托付给另一个女人。罗伯特的父母，作家诺拉和罗尔夫，因一场桃色事件而相互折磨，并为了追求自我实现和自由恋爱而走向毁灭。罗伯特自己，在祖父母充满安全感的家庭和68年代被压抑的生活间成长，一直在艰难地寻找属于自己的幸福。by:yakubd.cc

影片改编自德国女作家和记者伊冯妮·菲赫费尔（Yvonne Viehöfer；1955年3月15日~†2006年9月5日）的同名小说。

HotelmanagerMarcusWinterisawaitinganimportantvisitortotheEmiratesPalaceHotel.\rHislong-timefriend–therepresentativeofabigtouroperator–shouldbearrivingsoontoinspectthehotel.\rButinsteadofhisfriend,it’sanewinspectorthatcomes–SarahRiems,whoseideasconcerningtheneedsofhotelguestsgreatlydifferfromthoseofMarcus.\rTryingtoimpressSarahwiththedistinctiveflairofhishotel,Marcusmakesagrandpresentation,emphasizingthespectacularregionalcuisineandeventakingtheinspectoronseveraltripsintothebreathtakingdesert.Still,itlookslikeahardsell…\rAtthesametime,Anna,thehotel’sdecorator,excitedlyawaitsthearrivalofvisitorsofherown-herpen-palMaxandhisfriendHolger.AlthoughMaxandAnnahaveonlyoncebrieflymet,hisextremelyromanticlettershavefilledherheartwithpassion.\rOnceherguestsaresettledinthehotelthough,itbecomesquicklyobvioustoAnnathattheMaxwhohadinspiredsuchaloveinherthroughhislettersismuchdifferentthantheoneshenowseesbeforeher.\rIt’stheartisticHolgerwhoispresentlystirringherdesire,whichleadstoagrowingrivalrybetweenthetwomenthatstrainstheirfriendship.\rMeanwhile,thesinglemotherRenateandhersonTobiashavetraveledtothehotelforadreamholiday.Soon,Renate’srealreasonforthetriptoDubaisurfaces-shewantsTobiastobecomeacquaintedwithhisfather,whooperatesboattoursforthehotelguests–andwhodoesn’tevenknowhissonexists…