The Longing

Lena is the wife of Johannes, a religious pastor whose parish is in a desolate village in the midst of a forest somewhere in Germany. Lena’s “marriage de convenance” to a despotic husband means that she spends her days in isolation, alone, invariably submissive to her marital duties. Her routine is nothing but boredom until Paul, the town mechanic, comes into her life. She feels irresistibly drawn to him and finds a kind of security and tenderness that she has never known in the arms of austere Johannes. If on one hand, this encounter is a start to Lena?s emancipation, on the other, it does require discretion where she is concerned in what relates to her lover?s polemic past, involved as he was in the murder of a young girl. Once more, she is faced with a choice: whether to face up to bitter reality in her life or be silent to keep up appearances and preserve her own small share of earthly happiness.

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA