Bergblut (2010)

In the spring of 1809, a quarrel at a market in Augsburg between Katharina’s Tyrolean husband, Franz, and a French soldier escalates. The incident ends in a killing. The young couple are forced to leave the city and flee to Franz’s old home. Even on the way to Tyrol, it becomes clear that tensions in the Alpine region are reaching a breaking point. The people have turned against the Bavarians and French, who have occupied Tyrol for four years. Accordingly, Katharina, a Bavarian, receives a frosty welcome at the farm. Before long, she misses the comforts and security of her family of doctors in Augsburg. After all those years away from home, Franz is swept up in the enthusiasm surrounding Andreas Hofer, a marksman major and innkeeper. Hofer calls on the Tyrolean farmers to rise up against the superior Bavarian and French forces. It is not long before Franz goes off to war with his younger brother, leaving his wife behind. For the first time in her life, Katharina is left to fend for herself. She endures difficult days until she begins to carry out the tasks assigned to her conscientiously and wins the respect of the Egger family and the villagers. To everyone’s astonishment, the Tyroleans return victorious from the Battle of Bergisel. The whole village celebrates. Only Katharina and a priest who has by now become her friend realize that, while this night belongs to the Tyroleans, a lasting victory seems impossible. Katharina faces a decision and resolves to render Franz incapable of fighting by means of a ruse. When this is discovered, their once carefree relationship falls apart, and Katharina is driven from the farm. She finds refuge in the village, where she tends wounded men returning from the war in an infirmary. News of the betrayal of Andreas Hofer brings her back to Franz at the mountain farm.