冷杉溪是位於巴伐利亞和圖林根州交界處一個名叫莫德拉羅伊特的村莊。它在二戰末期被美國人占領，但隨後又被劃為了蘇聯占領區。蘇聯人在冷杉溪進行了大刀闊斧的土地改革。沒過多久，冷杉溪的主權被重新考慮。波茨坦會議後，分界最終被劃在了村中的一條小溪上，後來變為東德和西德的分界線。故事的重點放在了三個家庭，出場角色有土地被沒收的先代貴族史崔梭德和女兒安娜、投機取巧的納粹分子紹貝爾、在屠殺中倖免的猶太人洛特爾等等。三個家庭被國界分隔，最終親情也產生了無法消除的隔閡。

In 1976 Sopot, Poland, three determined women navigate social and political changes as they strive to find independence, financial freedom and love.

Michael Palin explores European countries that were once behind the Iron Curtain.

Behind the Iron Curtain, Geri leaves for college, looks forward to meeting girls and partying and joins a group of radicals led by the charismatic Száva. But Geri has a secret. He’s an informant of the totalitarian state and to save his brother, he’s been forced to spy on his new friends for State Security.