The Girl with the Needle

In Copenhagen, 1919, Karoline faces a bleak situation as she is unable to claim widow's compensation. Her husband Peter has been deployed and has not communicated with her, leaving her in dire circumstances while she works as a seamstress in a factory.

As she navigates her struggles, Karoline develops a romantic relationship with her boss Jørgen. This new connection provides her with a glimmer of hope for a better future, despite the absence of Peter.

Peter returns home, but he is not the same man Karoline once knew. Brutally mutilated by war, his physical return shatters Karoline's newfound happiness and complicates her relationship with Jørgen.

Faced with Peter's disfigurement and her lingering feelings for Jørgen, Karoline makes the difficult choice to reject Peter. She is hopeful for a future with Jørgen, but their relationship is strained by familial disapproval.

Alone and desperate, Karoline attempts to perform an abortion using a large needle. Fortunately, she is stopped by a compassionate old woman named Dagmar and a young girl named Erena, who rush to her aid.

Dagmar treats Karoline's wounds and introduces her to her secret business of finding homes for unwanted babies. Karoline is unsure of her future but sees a flicker of hope in Dagmar's unusual operation.

Karoline gives birth to a daughter, a bittersweet moment as Peter expresses a desire to keep the child. Karoline, feeling overwhelmed, decides to leave the baby in Dagmar's care for a better outcome.

Unable to pay for Dagmar's services, Karoline offers to be a wet nurse and moves into the sweets shop. While she settles into this new life, she finds companionship in Erena and starts to form a bond with Dagmar.

As Karoline enjoys her time caring for a baby boy accepted by Dagmar, her friend Frida grows suspicious of Dagmar's operations. Her concerns put further strain on the friendships within the shop.

Karoline's fears come true when she witnesses Dagmar smothering a baby to death. The horrifying act reveals the dark reality of Dagmar's operations, throwing Karoline into a deep moral conflict.

Karoline confronts Dagmar about the murdered babies, including her own daughter. Dagmar's chilling confession leaves Karoline shocked and horrified, deepening her feelings of despair.

During a struggle with Dagmar, Karoline accidentally suffocates the baby boy they were caring for. This tragic outcome echoes the chaos and desperation that have engulfed Karoline's life.

Karoline jumps out of a window in a moment of panic during the confrontation over the lost baby. Her escape triggers a series of events that lead to Dagmar's apprehension by the police.

After surviving her fall, Karoline seeks out Peter at the circus where he now resides. They reconcile, with Karoline finding solace in their reunion and support in her struggles with ether.

In a final act of love and redemption, Karoline adopts Erena from the orphanage. This gesture signifies her attempt to create a new life and family amidst the chaos that has defined her past.