The story begins with the local physician (Rainer Bock) being thrown from his horse by what appears to be deliberately placed wire. After sustaining injuries requiring him to go to the hospital, this incident marks the beginning of a series of harsh events affecting the close-knit rural community as Europe moves closer to World War I. Life in this village resembles a feudal system, with everything revolving around the baron (Ulrich Tukur). When his young son suffers a violent attack, anxieties escalate within the village, and as further terrible acts come to light, villagers begin to suspect one another. It’s possible that the pastor's children may be central to understanding what's happening. That’s what the narrator, an inexperienced teacher (Christian Friedl), eventually believes, but his discreet investigation reveals a disturbing reality involving child abuse, cruelty, infidelity, and other factors easily contributing to the perpetrators' calculated evil deeds. Every villager gets their chance in the spotlight as the film takes viewers on a detailed exploration of their flaws and failings. The movie offers an impactful portrayal of the almost claustrophobic nature of rural existence where people live in fear of losing support and depend on successful harvests – something reliant on a God embodied by Burghart Klaußner's complex pastor, a man more invested in maintaining order than uncovering the truth. There is an element of mystery present, but it becomes less important compared to the unsettling character study that is both perplexing and captivating.

Source on TMDB