Elvira's unambitious job is to answer the phone at a brothel owned by her childhood friend and policeman, Køster. However, when a prostitute goes missing, Elvira feels an urge to investigate, which leads to dramatic consequences.
Karlskov is a self made, successful owner of a large electronics factory, has a wife and five children. They live the good, privileged upper-class life on Strandvejen north of Copenhagen when the Nazis occupy Denmark in April 1940. Karl struggles to continue production at the factory, but to protect his family and employees he reluctantly begins to produce for the German market. It brings him into a controversial collaboration with the occupying power and causes painful breaks in the family.