"A Jar Full of Life" is a story about Marleen (Jella Haase), a 20-year-old who is struggling to decide what to do with her life. Her older brother (Matthias Schweighöfer) has spent years traveling the world, but has never been to the Antarctic. Despite being home for only a few days, he has already purchased a ticket for the next ship to the Antarctic.
He is a lover of adventures, and just before tragically dying in a car crash, he makes Marleen promise to start embracing life and adventures. As her family grieves his loss, Marleen decides to honor her brother's last wish by embarking on the trip to the Antarctic that he had planned, despite having no money.
Soon, Marleen finds herself accompanied by a little goat on her journey, as she sets out to fulfill her brother's dream and discover the beauty of life and adventure.