Margarete is crippled by disease from childhood. Growing up in a poor family in rural Germany in the 1850-ies that is tantamount to life-long confinement. Yet against overwhelming odds, through despair and desperation, Margarete fights her way out her hopeless situation to become the legendary founder of the 'Steiff' toy-empire, which achieved world-wide success with the invention of its fabled teddy-bear.