Four stages in the life of the aging Joan Crawford. 1954: A beautiful woman of a "certain age" drives alone through the Californian desert, stays in a shabby motel. There she has anonymous sex with a car salesman. The way they deal with them makes it clear that the aging Joan Crawford wants to be recognized as a star. 1964: Joan Crawford has surprising success with horror films in which she transforms into a monster. Fiction and reality mix. Joan Crawford receives many journalists on the occasion of the Berlin Film Festival, including reporter Grundmann, who spends the night with Joan Crawford. 1974: A soap opera producer awaits her in a New York apartment. Despite her reluctance to watch television, she hopes to get involved in a soap opera series, which is a way of survival for the aging stars. She feels humiliated. May 1997: Joan Crawford is sick and alone. A gay salesman from Macy's brings her a new wig and turns out to be the only admirer who can show her closeness.—Ulf Kjell Gür