《嫌疑》讲述了一对民主德国恋人的悲剧故事。故事发生在上世纪七十年代中期，卡琳爱上了弗朗克，然而她的父母却反对他们的恋情。她的父亲库尔特·莫尔兹是德国统一社会党（SED）的一名干部，他怀疑弗朗克想要非法离开民主德国。在父母的压力下，卡琳选择了结束这段关系，只希望能继续大学学习。最终弗朗克也决定自杀。

Two people love each other when they know they should not. Their parents' and friends' pleas, their social backgrounds and reputation, their careers; everything is used to make them give each other up. Flattery, lies and threats finally drive Frank to despair and Karin to treason. But it is not due to their parents' hatred, nor to any greed for inherited wealth. Rather, the mere conjecture expressed by the authorities is enough to set off a merciless mechanism.

Der Vorsitzende des Landkreises verbietet seiner Tochter Karin, mit ihrem Freund Frank in der nahe gelegenen Großstadt ins Theater zu gehen.