IntheAlpinevillageofTolzbadinthe1800s,thetownsfolktalkquietlyandrestraintheirmovementslesttheyincuravalanches.Thisatmospherelendsitselftorepressedemotions-shownthroughtheparallelstoriesofbutlerstudentJohannlustingafterhismother(anoldflameofthemysteriousCountKnotkers)andKlara'
sattractiontoherfather(wholustsafterhisother...