IntheAlpinevillageofTolzbadinthe1800s,thetownsfolktalkquietlyandrestraintheirmovementslesttheyincuravalanches.Thisatmospherelendsitselftorepressedemotions-shownthroughtheparallelstoriesofbutlerstudentJohannlustingafterhismother(anoldflameofthemysteriousCountKnotkers)andKlara'sattractiontoherfather(wholustsafterhisotherdaughter),leadingtoduelsandsuicidalplungesgalore.AllthisisshotinthestyleofanearlyGermansonalfilm,completewithintertitles,cracklysound-trackand'hand-tinted'coloureffects.-WrittenbyMichaelBrooke