Филмът представя връзката на великия немски писател Гьоте с обикновеното селско момиче Кристиане. Живеят заедно 28 години, 18 от които в грях и 10 като женени. Гьоте се жени за нея след като тя спасява живота му при битка с наполеоновите войни. Връзката им е бурна и изпълнена с поврати. Случва се Кристиане да бъде гонена заедно със сина им в помещенията за слугите, често хората я обвиняват, че мястото й не е до писателя, много жени й завиждат, но тя остава при своя любим, дори и в периода, когато Гьоте намира утеха при много по-млади момичета.

The relationship between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great German writer, and Christiane Vulpius, a village girl, is one of the instantaneous and fiery passion. They lived together for 28 years, 18 of these living in sin, 10 a married couple. Christiane's rival, Charlotte von Stein, a former favorite of Goethe, begins plotting and scheming against her. Christiane puts up with countless insults and humiliations like having to 'disappear' with their son into the servants' quarters and to stay at home on official occasions. Goethe marries her when she saves his life during an attack by plundering Napoleonic soldiers. Her new social position as Goethe's wife is resented and envied by all. When she is openly attacked by the snooty, jealous people, Goethe is only half-hearted in coming to her defence. But she stays with him for he is her great love, even when she turns to the charms of many youthful admirers...

Ein Brief ihres Bruders veranlasst die in armen Verhältnissen lebende Christiane Vulpius, dem Dichter und Minister Johann Wolfgang von Goethe im Stadtpark zu Weimar aufzulauern. Sie wagt kaum, dem großen Goethe ins Gesicht zu schauen, und läuft davon, als er sie in sein Haus einlädt. Goethe ist fasziniert von der scheuen, aber direkten Art des Mädchens. Er zieht Christiane in seinen Bann und stürzt sich mit ihr in eine leidenschaftliche Beziehung.