 Maria adapts to the realities of post-war Germany and becomes the wealthy mistress of an industrialist, all the while staying true to her love for Hermann.The film was one of the more successful works of Fassbinder and shaped the image of the New German Cinema in foreign countries.The film is the first installment of Fassbinder's BRD Trilogy, followed by "Lola" (1981) and "Veronika Voss" (1982).