Sarah Erdmann has become engaged to Manfred Roth, who is a few years older than her. But although love is never only taking, neither can it be unreserved giving. It can destroy just as easily as it can preserve life, especially when it falls under the classification of animal love". The meaning of this term is explored in an account of the whole range of different forms of love, from well - meaning to purely destructive.
The lovers believe they have created an island for themselves. But they each have a role at work and especially in the family. This is a bitter discovery for Sarah Erdmann and Manfred Roth to make. But they refuse to accept any obstacles as being real reasons. Sarah is determined to marry Manfred, although she knows something about his past and his parents.

Already seen with Hitchcock
"The summary of this film supplied by ZDF was annoying - a gem of banal, pompous attempts at secrecy. In fact, the work itself was realy excellent: in this psychological thriller about a disastrous mother- son connection a German director (Wolf Gremm) shows claerly that he has seen and learnt all sorts from Hitchcock. There may be a decadent tinge, but it's still a great deal. Gremm knows how to let horror develop from everyday situations, to deal sparingly with this horror, and yet to let it lead to a thundering crescendo. The actors in "Fatal Love" were excellent: Ruth Maria Kubitschek, Dietlinde Turban, and - as a Mother Dé Courage - Brigitte Mira, who always gets just that little bit better".
(Rudolph Blum in Tele/Zürich)