When the young and (back then) unsuccessful poet Johann Goethe (Alexander Fehling), neglects his law studies, his fuming father sends him off to a court of justice in a sleepy town, where Goethe falls head over heels in love with young Lotte (Miriam Stein). While their young love seems a perfect match, are both unaware of the fact that Lotte is to marry Kestner, Johann’s boss (Moritz Bleibtreu), and was promised to him long ago.