In 1930s Warsaw, wealthy Andrzej Dowmunt returns from Africa, becomes entangled with a spy, and later marries Marta after exposing the espionage plot. When his former love Ewa dies tragically, Andrzej takes in their son Janek to raise him together with Marta.
The mangiest pup at Pete's Pooch Palace catches the Captain's eye. He takes it home, but Mama is less than thrilled; she forbids it to stay in the house.
Herr Werther, a new magistrate to the Grand Duchy of Walheim who is a violinist and poet, seems to have fate on his side as he meets and pursues a beautiful local woman, Charlotte.
Reflecting the filmmaker's passion for automobiles, who in his youth participated in car races, the film portrays the attempt to manufacture a new model in the Ford factory in the city of Porto.