Poul Reumert

In an old Jewish family in Copenhagen, with its loyalty and close-knit community, there are some challenges when they run into the world outside their family circle.

The main character is an orphaned young woman who is about to be married off to an unappealing but rich old man, Mr. Sleeman, at the instigation of her aunts who have taken charge of her. Bergman infuses the situation with overtones of rueful pessimism concerning life in general.

A picture of the life of the Danish people from the late 1820s to the introduction of the free constitution in 1849. A fictional character, Rasmus Nielsen, travels around the country, first as a traveling teacher, later in other positions, and through his experiences we are introduced to the conditions of various population groups. The central figure in the portrayal of historical figures is the politician Orla Lehmann.

Engineer Rolf Swedenhielm is one of Sweden's most distinguished scientists, a festive and original person, and at the same time a man with an unwavering sense of honor. His home is managed by his sister-in-law Boman, who runs the household for him and his three children. After a lifetime of dedication to science, Swedenhielm is finally about to reap the rewards of his triumph: he is nominated for the Nobel Prize. Confusion arises about the nomination—is it a case of fraud?

A large city is in a state of panic, in workplaces and in homes people are discussing the terrible fate that has befallen a little girl named Birte. A sex offender has been at play, he has been haunting the city's parks and facilities for a long time, and his latest victim is Birte Elkær, daughter of the scientist Hans Elkær and his wife Martha. The police have deployed extra personnel, and they are now searching for the second day. Will the little girl be found alive?

Composer Jørgen Rhoders lives an easy life, at least according to his son Per. Per and his stepsister, Ulla, decide to give their father a little trouble so that his compositions will improve. However, Jørgen deceives the children, and only when the children cause their parents to fall out does the situation seem to improve. Meanwhile, Ulla believes that Per is in love with Lily.

At the dinner for their school's 100th anniversary, three old schoolmates meet. All three have done well in life, for Eyvind is now a respected judge, Herluf the stern director of a glassworks and Ove the owner of a printing house. In the time after the dinner, the coincidences of the three men's lives will become entangled in a way none of them could have foreseen. Fortunately, they still have their old principal in the background to pull the strings.

Eight separate family dramas (uncovering many aspects of deceit) are woven together to the sound of a certain Chopin waltz.

After three long years, the young legal secretary Bodil is reunited with his former girlfriend Carsten. Their love affair flares up again, but unfortunately Bodil has meanwhile come a little too close to his boss' son, the skirt hunter Hugo. And he has no intention of making Bodil happy.

The large manufacturer, engineer Steen Andersen, is a powerful man. A large staff jumps at his slightest whim, he is used to his every order being carried out, and he does not know how to be told off at all. But suddenly his entire regular life is shaken up, and the reason is a young, lovely girl on horseback in the Deer Park. Steen Andersen has met her several times on his morning rides. But how to get to know her?