Petra von Kant (Margit Carstensen) is a divorced fashion designer and extremely stuck on herself. Her maid/secretary Marlene (Irm Hermann) seems to do everything for her, jumping to attention. She's also a co-designer, so it's unclear who really has the talent here.

Karin (Hanna Schygulla) enters as a young woman whom Petra offers to help out financially, and they become lovers. Only this time, Petra falls in love with Karin, but Karin is just using her and leaves when she's back on her feet. The self-possessed Petra can't believe it. All this time, Marlene has been the one completely devoted to her, but when Petra realizes this, it's too late. Marlene leaves as well, leaving Petra alone.

The entire film takes place in one room, showing Petra's reality - a woman who thinks herself a worldly designer, but is only the queen of her room. It's a two-hour movie based on a play heavy with dialog and moves at a snail's pace.

Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, well known gay German director.