Director Margarethe von Trotta's first solo effort is an intense political drama that embraces the theme of closeness between women. Christa is a young mother who, distraught over the prospect that her children's day care center is running out of money, executes a bank robbery with the assistance of her lover Werner and another friend. Werner is killed during the attempt and when it becomes clear that the police are after her, Christa flees to the Portuguese country house of her friend Ingrid, a situation that threatens both women's safety.