"Everybody lies - in search of Rio Reiser" is reminiscent of the singer, but also of a phase in German history in which squatting, the founding of collectives and the overcoming of encrusted behavior were supposed to open up a new perspective on life. Undercuts with concert recordings and historical interviews, social and personal conflicts are brought to life in game scenes. Actor and musician Nick is rehearsing for the role of Rio Reiser in a theater production by leftist director Heiner Caspari. In dealing with his role as Rio, in the controversies with Caspari and in the collaboration with Jako, Till and Arne, who play the band members, the boundaries between history and the present are not only blurred for Nick. The situation escalated when the group withdrew to Fresenhagen, in the country house of the "shards", in a voluntary state of emergency. Despite his love story with Casparis' daughter Julia, Nick feels drawn to Jako and at the same time sees this mixing of role and life as a manipulation by Casparis. Jako in turn turns to Julia. The group threatens to break up.
—Ulf Kjell Gür