乔纳森(安德鲁·麦卡锡 Andrew McCarthy 饰)自称是一名艺术家,可在外人的眼里,他不过就是一个从来没有完成过一件像样物品,亦没有一份正式工作的无所事事的穷小子罢了。一次偶然中,乔纳森以一个美女的形象为蓝本制作了一个人体模型,模型的美艳和完美大大出乎了乔纳森的意料,他将此当做他唯一一件成功的作品,甚至深深的爱上了自己所创造出的这个形象。 令乔纳森大为震惊的是,“皮格马利翁的象牙美人”的故事竟然成真,模型有了自己的生命,她是一个来自未来的女子,名叫艾玛(金·凯特罗尔 Kim Cattrall 饰)。模型的复活让乔纳森大喜过望,与此同时,麻烦事也接连发生。
At Christine's funeral, her foster son suddenly shows up, a grown-up man with whom the family has been out of contact for quite some time. He brought a letter, stating that Christine wants to be buried in Wentelen, to the bewilderment of her biological children, and even more so to that of her husband. In addition to that, all the relatives are surprised that the foster son of Christine apparently maintained a correspondence with Christine. Nevertheless, Christine's last wish is respected, and they decided to bury her in Wentelen, and wish to do so traditionally, meaning walking behind the hearse. During a walk of several days, all the relatives (foster sisters, foster father, alleged friends and real ones, the foster son, lovers) have enough time to get to know each other better. Because in the end they have no other conclusion than that nobody really knew anyone. Old intrigues are dug up, the foster sisters finally learn why the foster brother just disappeared from the family, and they can begin to develop a real image of the mother. Once Christine's final resting place is reached and she is buried, all family ties, good and bad, are shaken around.