Wahlverwandtschaften (1974)

The era of the Napoleonic Wars: Shortly after their second marriage, Charlotte and Eduard have withdrawn together to a secluded country house, where they want to find out whether the two of them can be content with each other alone. While Charlotte dreams of days and nights spent together and prepares a love nest for them both in a “moss house,” Eduard soon grows weary of life as a couple. He persuades Charlotte to invite his friend, the Captain, to the estate. Charlotte’s foster daughter Ottilie is also to join the three of them in the country. The four spend a few quiet summer days together. Eduard, however, feels increasingly drawn to the young Ottilie, while Charlotte spends her time with the Captain. Together, the four decide to have a summerhouse built on the estate, but their companionship falls apart during its construction. Eduard declares his love for Ottilie, while Charlotte cannot bring herself to choose the Captain. After the Captain has left, Eduard moves away from the estate—also so that he can resist Ottilie. He wants to divorce Charlotte, who is expecting his child. Resigned, Eduard enlists for military service. He intends either to fall in battle or, once the war is over, to be able to make a final choice in favor of Ottilie. Charlotte gives birth to the child. Months pass, and Ottilie is watching the baby near the lake when Eduard returns. Ottilie hurries to meet him, and the two spend the afternoon together in love until Ottilie remembers the baby she has left behind. The child can only be retrieved from the lake dead. Ottilie falls into a deep faint. Charlotte, however, also sees her own clinging to Eduard as one reason their child has died. She agrees to divorce Eduard. Ottilie, however, does not want to win Eduard in this way and rushes away. She remains nowhere to be found, and Eduard sinks into lethargy. Charlotte begins rearranging the estate. But she cannot lift a large wardrobe over a threshold by herself and struggles unsuccessfully alone until the very end.