Jugend (1922)

Anne, born out of wedlock and called Annchen, grew up at the rectory of her uncle, Pastor Hoppe, after her mother’s early death. Also living there are Annchen’s intellectually disabled half-brother, Amandus, and the curate Gregor von Schigorski, a religious zealot who wants Annchen to enter a convent to atone for her mother’s guilt. When Hans Hartwig, Annchen’s cousin and a prospective university student, stops by the rectory on his way to Heidelberg, Hans and Annchen fall in love. Pastor Hoppe tolerates their love, but Amandus and Schigorski watch them with jealousy, envy, and resentment. Hans and Annchen spend the night together. But Amandus, who had secretly followed Annchen that night, has seen them. Immediately afterward, he goes to Schigorski to tell him about it. Schigorski, in turn, tells the pastor. The pastor decides that Hans must leave at once and return only after completing his studies. As Hans and Annchen say goodbye to each other, Amandus appears, intending to shoot Hans. Annchen, however, throws herself between them and is fatally hit.