Madonnen

Rita flees to Belgium with her baby because she is wanted for theft and other

offences in Germany. She sets out in search of her natural father whom she has

never met. But he has a wife and children. Rita's sudden appearance causes

complications in the family. She is eventually arrested by the Belgian police and

deported to Germany where she serves a lengthy prison sentence.

During this time, Rita's four other children live with Rita's mother Isabella. She runs a

restaurant and has little time for the children. Fanny, the eldest, has to look after her

siblings.

After Rita is released from prison, she takes her children back again – against the

wishes of her mother Isabella. With the help of Marc – an American soldier stationed

in Germany – an almost normal family life develops. But Rita doesn't trust Marc's

feelings. They don't fit into the pattern of her previous experiences. Rita resumes her

former lifestyle. She sees other men and pilfers with a girlfriend. When Marc

announces he is to be posted back in the USA, Rita's life is thrown off balance.