From the Life of the Marionettes

Peter Egermann visits a prostitute named Ka and murders her, an act that includes necrophilia with her body. The crime marks a violent tipping point and triggers a police inquiry into his life and relationships.

The coroner interrogates Peter's friends to piece together the motive and circumstances behind the murder. The probing focuses on Peter's relationships, mental state, and any signs that could have foretold the tragedy.

Mogens Jensen tells the coroner he is shocked by the murder and believes there were no signs this could happen. He notes that he warned Katarina to leave town, but his advice went unheeded.

Peter is married to Katarina, a career focused woman, and they have no children. Their open relationship provides a backdrop for Peter's growing inner conflict and sense of disconnection.

Peter confides in Jensen that he is plagued by homicidal thoughts, particularly toward Katarina. Jensen considers these thoughts signs of distress but does not see them as an immediate danger.

Jensen advises Katarina to leave town, believing that distance might reduce the risk posed by Peter's unstable impulses. He treats the warning as a precaution rather than a certainty.

Katarina dismisses the warning as preposterous, noting that her busy work schedule makes travel impractical. She underestimates the danger that Peter's thoughts could pose.

Before the murder, Peter contemplates throwing himself from a building, signaling his despair. Katarina calls a friend to help calm him down, and he returns inside to a heated confrontation with her.

The couple quarrels after Peter returns home, discussing their open relationship. Peter asserts he is the one who knows how to sexually satisfy Katarina, while she admits occasional dissatisfaction and detachment.

Katarina explains that she sometimes has orgasms with Peter but also fakes them and sometimes leaves the bedroom to masturbate. She adds that on other occasions she experiences only small convulsions.

The interrogator questions Tim, Katarina's business partner and friend who knew Peter. Tim hesitates before admitting he had desires for Peter and feels guilty after introducing Peter to Ka.

Tim blames his homosexuality for bringing Peter and Ka together and explains his motive to lure Peter into an affair. The confession reveals tangled motivations behind the circle's dynamics.

When Peter first meets Ka at a Munich peep show, Ka reveals that her real name is Katarina, the same as Peter's wife. This revelation destabilizes Peter and foreshadows the looming tragedy.

Jensen concludes that Peter, who grew up with an aggressive mother and later with an equally aggressive wife, is unaware of his latent homosexuality. Meeting Ka disrupts his routine and triggers an emotional blackout.

The film ends with Peter confined to a mental institution, where he cradles a teddy bear at night. The ending underscores his lingering fragility and isolation.