A distant farm in the Black Forest in 1942, Emma (Brigitte Hobmeier) and Fritz (Hans-Jochen Wagner) have been married for ten years. The taciturn but well-rehearsed marriage is overshadowed by the as-yet unfulfilled wish for a progenitor for the farm, which is already causing gossip within the village community. One evening, the rough-around-the-edges Fritz discovers the Jew Albert (Christian Friedel) in the undergrowth while poaching and unceremoniously offers him a place to spend the night in the barn. Against Emma's will, Fritz suggests that the Jew give him shelter on the farm. In return, Albert is to help the farming couple with their daily hard work. Fritz increasingly takes a liking to the refugee, whom he, unlike Emma, meets without prejudice. The slowly developing male friendship is put to the test when Fritz asks the young man for a special favor. Albert is to father a child with Emma in his place....
A distant farm in the Black Forest in 1942, Emma (Brigitte Hobmeier) and Fritz (Hans-Jochen Wagner) have been married for ten years. The taciturn but well-rehearsed marriage is overshadowed by the as-yet unfulfilled wish for a progenitor for the farm, which is already causing gossip within the village community. One evening, the rough-around-the-edges Fritz discovers the Jew Albert (Christian Friedel) in the undergrowth while poaching and unceremoniously offers him a place to spend the night in the barn. Against Emma's will, Fritz suggests that the Jew give him shelter on the farm. In return, Albert is to help the farming couple with their daily hard work. Fritz increasingly takes a liking to the refugee, whom he, unlike Emma, meets without prejudice. The slowly developing male friendship is put to the test when Fritz asks the young man for a special favor. Albert is to father a child with Emma in his place....