Тема фильма связана с весьма болезненным, а потому туманным, аспектом жизни Швеции в период с 1934 по 1976 г., когда закон разрешил властям производить принудительную стерилизацию девушек, чье будущее социальное благополучие вызывало сомнения. Причиной подобных сомнений могло стать не только физическое или душевное заболевание, но даже "чересчур" бедное происхождение или уличение в беспорядочности связей - в общем те пороки, от которых социальные службы разных мастей спешили освободить шведское общество. Жертвами подобных мер стало порядка 30 000 женщин...

Sweden 1951. A new society is developing, a society where there is no room for the socially and mentally weak. Gertrud is a 17 year old girl from a very poor family. Against her will, she is committed to a work home for young women. Gertrud learns that the only way out is by agreeing to a voluntary sterilization. Gertrud falls in love with the janitor, Axel and soon finds herself pregnant. She dreams about a normal family life with Axel and the child, and doesnt realize that when performing the operation the doctor will most certainly take the child away. She changes her mind about the operation but she no longer has a choice. Now there is only one way out: She pretends to be mentally deranged and is transferred to a mental hospital. A child grows in her womb. Gertrud has fooled the system, but the price she pays is her own future...