Einer trage des anderen Last

At the beginning of the 50s, two extremely disparate men meet in a private sanatorium for consumptives: an officer in the People's Police, Josef Heiliger; and a young Protestant curate, Hubertus Koschenz. On account of their consumption, they have to share a room. Initially, this is the only thing they have in common. Whereas Heiliger pins up a Stalin portrait over his bedside table, the curate insists on having a picture of Christ over his table. Whenever Hubertus summons some people to prayers, Josef calls others to a Party meeting. One sings the Church hymn "Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott" during his early-morning shave, the other strikes up the Communist song 'The International". This set-up does not work out well for long. Soon both ask the medical superintendent to be placed in separate rooms. Their request is turned down. Josef Heiliger is severely ill and faces becoming an invalid soon unless medicine is obtained from the US. But the doctors cannot get hold of this wonder remedy. Still, Heiliger regains his high spirits. He falls in love with Sonja, a young fellow-patient, without realizing, however; that she is destined to die of a fatal disease. After a terrible row, the men straighten things out and get on much better. Spring arrives and Heiliger leaves the sanatorium. Koschenz has managed to procure the magic substance through a Swiss Protestant aid-organization and secretly passes it on to Josef. (Progress Film-Verleih)