Overview

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...

Top Cast

Veronica Ferres

Christiane Vulpius

Herbert Knaup

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sibylle Canonica

Charlotte von Stein

Christoph Waltz

Herzog Carl August

F

Franziska Herold

Charlotte Lengefeld-Schiller

Christian Hockenbrink

Christian August Vulpius

August Diehl

Fritz von Stein

F

Friedrich-Wilhelm Junge

Christoph Martin Wieland

Rüdiger Vogler

Hans-Heinrich Meyer

Maria Happel

Tante Juliane

Fritzi Haberlandt

Ernestine

Jörg Schüttauf

Paul Goetze / Diener Geist / neuer Diener / Seidel