"Love eats up life" retraces the work by Tobias Gruben, which 20 years after his death continues to be a nearly completely undiscovered diamond in the rough of German pop culture. The singer of "Cyan Revue" and "Die Erde" inspires young bands like "Messer" or "Isolation Berlin" to perform cover versions of his songs. The film depicts not only an incomplete music career, but also describes the never-ending struggle of a son for recognition by his father. In interviews, music, some of which as yet unreleased, and letters, "Love devours life" takes us straight to the heart and mind of a musician nearly completely forgotten, who shortly before his commercial breakthrough died of an overdose and whose lyrics and songs continue to touch listeners today.