In the political confusion of Austria in the 1930s, heightened by the incursion of the illegal Nazi agitators from across the nearby German border; teenaged Maria Ebner, in an impulsive act, kills a man in order to save the life of George Hamminger, her lover and soulmate. Some time later, notwithstanding all they have been through together, George deserts her. Convinced he is gone for good, Maria marries the local carpenter. They have two children. In 1944, seven years after his demise, George returns home to Upper Austria's Kobernausserwald to begin a one man war against eleven men who have earned his undying hatred. Maria has known about this bete noir ever since their childhood, yet even though it never let up, she has always shrugged it off as mere juvenile fantasy. Now, after the first killing he seeks her out. Against her better judgement, and despite the gnawing certainty that she will not be able to sway him, she stands by him, now as always, no matter what."