After German reunification, the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground begins a killing spree while cops fight an uphill battle to catch them.

Young journalist Sebastian Zöllner is writing an article on artist Manuel Kaminski. Zöllner hopes that Kaminski dies soon, so that he can cash in on his article.

Due to alleged West contacts Bettina is arrested in 1984. Jan is a Stasi officer and expert in interrogation. For half a year, the officer and the dissident sit face to face almost daily, and the unbelievable happens: they fall in love with each other. In a few words and gestures and by means of a numerical code, they communicate. '11 means 'you are beautiful', '12 means 'I love you'. Jan and Bettina are always at risk of their love being discovered.

Set against the backdrop of post-unification Germany, the film explores the breakdown of relations in a decaying social structure.