Gesche's Poison is a psychological portrait loosely based on the true story of Gesche Gottfried who became notorious in 19th century Bremen for killing fifteen people with arsenic. Known by her neighbors and friends as a merciful Christian, loving mother and devoted wife, she poisoned within fifteen years her parents, her brother, two husbands, three children and numerous friends. When caught, she never denied her deeds, but could not give any reason.