A youth in Hessen, a life in many languages and countries: for four decades, Volker Schlöndorff has been one of the few German filmmakers of international standing. In this autobiography, he tells vividly about his childhood in post-war Germany, his political commitment around 1968, the creation of his "Tin Drum," for which he received the first German post-war Oscar, and his life in Germany, France, Italy, and America. He also shares insights about directors such as Jean-Pierre Melville and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, as well as actors like Alain Delon and Jeanne Moreau.