THE WHITE RIBBON A German children's story
I don't know if the story I want to tell you
is entirely true.
Some of it I only know by hearsay.
After so many years, a lot of it is still obscure,
and many questions remain unanswered.
But I think I must tell of the strange events
that occurred in our village.
They could perhaps
clarify some things that happened in this country.
It all began, I think, with the doctor's riding accident.
After his dressage session on the Baron's estate,
he was headed home,
to see if any patients had arrived.
Entering the garden,
his horse tripped on a wire
strung between two trees.
His daughter saw the accident from a window,
informed their neighbor,
who informed the estate's steward,
so that the agonizing doctor
could be transported to the district hospital
over 30 km away.
The neighbor, a single woman of around 40,
was the village midwife.
Since the death of the doctor's wife in childbirth,
she had become invaluable for him as housekeeper and receptionist.
After tending the doctor's two children,
she went to the school to fetch her own son, Karl.
- Have you seen Anni? - You don't say hello?
Hello, Mrs Wagner. Forgive him.
Hi, Klara.
We're so worried that Martin forgot his manners.
That's all right.
How is the Doctor?
Not very well.
- Must he stay in the hospital? - I don't know.
We'll go see Anna, to help her out.
Good!
- You enjoyed the choir? - Yes.
Show how well you sang.
Good bye, teacher.
Last one is a rotten egg!
If I remember correctly,
it seemed odd to me that the kids around Klara,
instead of scattering after school to their homes,
headed together to the exit of the village.
I could cut out some animals for you...
...like last week.
You'd like that?
We can color them together.
Or cut them from the lovely colored paper?
The golden one that I got for Easter?
Come on...
Well, I'll make us something to eat.
What if he never comes back?
What?
Come on!
Don't be silly!
It'll heal, just like the flu.
Remember last winter?
You were very sick, weren't you?
And then...
Hi, Anni!
How are you?
Can we help you?
How did the wire get there? Did the Doctor say?
He was in no mood to talk:
...his collarbone was stuck in his neck.
I asked his daughter. She has no idea.
He rides through there daily.
- Did you look at the wire? - Sure.
It's thin, but strong.
Almost invisible.
Sorry, Madame. You play too well for me.
Don't apologize, concentrate. It'll help us both.
You play too fast for me, M'am. I'm not Frederic the Great.
How could he have played Schubert?
Let's do the Variation again.
Darling, if you like the music, sit beside me and turn the pages.
If you're bored, go to your room.
Or stay out of my sight.
I get nervous if you saunter around.
What time is it? Where's the nanny?
With the twins, I presume.
- It's twenty to nine. - Twenty to nine?
Way past your bedtime!
Has he done his homework?
Of course, M'am.
You want to turn the pages for me or not?
Yes.
Then come here!
Let's go back to the Theme.
Practice the Variations. Or it's no fun.
I'll do my best, Baroness.
So from Bar 9.
Please forgive us, Father.
Forgive us.
Tonight, no one here has eaten.
When night fell, and you hadn't returned...
...your mother searched the village in tears.
Could we have enjoyed our meal, fearing for you?
Can we enjoy our meal now...
...after hearing your lying excuses?
I don't know what's worse:
...your absence, or your coming back.
Tonight we'll all go to bed hungry.
You surely agree with me.
...that I can't leave your offense unpunished.
...if we want to keep on living in mutual respect.
So tomorrow evening at this hour...
I'll give each of you, in front of your siblings...
...ten strokes of the cane.
Until then, you may ponder over your offense.
Do you agree with me?
Yes, Father.
All right then. Go to bed now, all of you.
Don't touch me!
Your mother and I will sleep poorly:
I have to beat you and the strokes will cause us more pain than you.
Leave us alone, and go to bed!
When you were little...
...your mother sometimes tied a ribbon.
...in your hair or around your arm.
Its white color was to remind you of innocence and purity.
I thought you were now well-mannered enough.
...to get by without such reminders.
I was wrong.
Tomorrow, once your punishment has purified you...
...your mother will re-tie a ribbon on you...
...and you'll wear it.
...until we can trust you again.
Where is the wire now?
Who removed it?
I don't know.
You weren't here?
You were in town with your father?
No.
- Then you were here. - I was at school.
When you left, was the wire still here?
I didn't check.
- When did you get back? - At noon.
I make lunch for the Doctor and the kids.
I've helped him since his wife died.
Since when?
Since Rudolf's birth, 5 years ago.
I'm the midwife here. We work together.
- But you saw nothing? - No.
How long was the wire there?
I never saw it.
Nobody saw it before, or afterwards!
It wound itself around two trees, and vanished by itself!
Right?
Mom!
What is it?
Excuse me.
The day after the doctor's accident
brought no solution to the mystery.
Then a second, far more tragic incident,
almost made people forget the previous one.
The wife of a tenant farmer died in a work-accident.
The woman, who had an injured arm,
was dispensed by the steward from harvesting chores,
and assigned to lighter work in the sawmill.
Stay outside! I'm not done.
You get out!
On the same day, I had a strange encounter.
The weather was beautiful and hot,
so I decided to improve my meager menu with some brown trout,
which are plentiful in the river.
The Baron allowed me to fish there.
Martin!
Martin, be careful!
Are you insane?
You want to break your neck?
Hello, sir.
What's this? Have you gone mad?
You know how high that is?
Didn't you hear me shout to you?
Yes, I did.
Well?
You saw me and wanted to impress me?
So why...
I gave God a chance to kill me.
He didn't do it. So he's pleased with me.
What are you saying?
He doesn't want me to die.
Who doesn't want you to die?
God.
Why would God want you to die?
Promise me you won't do it again!
Look at me!
Promise it!
You don't trust me, huh?
Yes, I do, sir.
All right.
Go home. Tomorrow after your piano lesson, I'll talk to your dad.
No, please, don't tell him!
It's there.
Careful, it's all rotten.
Who sent her up here?
No idea.
We had to collect loose ends. She fell through.
You saw it?
Not really.
You know how it works.
The foremen assign weaker harvesters up here.
Who assigned her?
On my way home, after that strange encounter with Martin,
was when I first met Eva...
Hello!
Excuse me!
Sorry for accosting you.
Aren't you the new nanny on the estate?
Why?
They say you're from Treglitz.
Who says that?
The locals.
So?
Nothing...
I don't know...
I'm the schoolteacher here.
I just thought...
When I saw you, I thought...
I'm the tailor's son from Vasendorf.
- I know. - What?
The Baroness told me.
What?
That the teacher is from the village next to mine.
I see, yes...
Well... I thought...
Looks as if you're going there...
Where?
Back home. To Treglitz.
Yes?
- Are you going there? - Yes, I am.
I thought...
...since you'll go through our village, you could...
...say hello to my dad, and give him a fish?
What?
He'd love that.
Especially over the weekend.
How?...
I don't know.
Unfortunately, I have nothing to wrap...
Neither do I.
Unfortunately...
We could tie them on with fishing line.
Just like that, on the bike?
That's not a very good idea.
Right, it was just an idea.
Yes.
Is it your bike?
No, the estate's.
Is this your first day off?
You must be glad to go home.
I can imagine.
Well... I've still a long way to go.
Well...
Good-bye.
If you see my father in Vasendorf...
...say hello to him from me.
I don't know your father.
That's true.
It's my first time on a bike!
You're doing fine!
But be careful!
The woman today, what was wrong with her?
Which woman?
I see. She was dead.
What's that?
What?
Dead.
What's "dead"?
Quite a question!
It's when one doesn't live anymore.
When one has stopped living.
When does one stop living?
When one is very old, or very ill.
And the woman?
She had an accident.
An "accident"?
Yes. It's when you're badly hurt.
Like Dad?
Yes, but much worse than that.
So bad, your body can't take it anymore.
And then you're dead?
Yes.
But most people don't have an accident.
- So they're not dead. - No, they die much later.
When?
Well... Later, when they're really old.
Does everyone die?
Yes.
Everyone, really?
Yes, everyone has to die.
But not you, Anni?
Me too.
Everyone.
But not Dad?
Dad too.
Me too?
You too. But not for a very long time.
All of us, only in a very long time.
One can't fight it? It has to happen?
Yes, but not for a very long time.
And Mom?
She didn't go on a trip?
Is she dead too?
Yes.
She's dead too.
But that was a long time ago.
Klara!
Martin, you coming?
Karli?
You can come in.
What is it?
- What do you think? - I don't know.
It's a boy.
What? Don't you want a brother?
Lucky your father didn't hear you.
I'm sorry.
They knew it was dangerous for her.
What do you want?
You want to sue the Baron?
Or murder the steward?
Go cut off his head with your scythe!
Won't bring your mother back to life.
Father, you loved our mother.
Shut up!
After those two days in July,
life in the village got back to normal.
The daily harvesting chores exhausted everyone.
Most of the kids pitched in to help their parents.
I took up the steward's offer
to be his secretary during the harvesting,
as I hoped it would enable me
to see the young girl again.
I couldn't get her out of my mind after our meeting.
But she rarely came out of the manor house.
The doctor was still in the hospital.
Anna and Rudolf, his two children,
were cared for meanwhile by the midwife.
After the farmer's wife's funeral,
that the whole village attended,
both accidents were forgotten.
Until the end of the summer
when the harvest feast reunited the whole village,
first in a joyful mood,
then in horror and perplexity.
My thanks to all of you.
You have worked well.
The heavens were kind and the barns are full.
So the beer can flow...
...and you won't starve today!
Long live the Baron!
Long may he live!
Most honorable Baron.
...and Baroness...
...dear merrymakers...
Let us hear on this festive occasion.
Psalm 145, Verse 15:
"The eyes of all wait upon thee, Lord;
"and thou givest them their meat in due season... "
In the name of the Father...
...the Son...
...and the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Now enjoy your meal.
Eat and drink to your fill! You earned it!
You promised us a chorale by your pupils.
Ask the pastor, Baroness.
We're still practicing for the confirmation feast.
That's in spring! Now it's the fall.
Our little singers aren't all very musical. Sorry!
Well, you two "mothers"?
Not taking part in the festivities?
It's so nice here in the shade.
Our son seems to be enjoying that!
Yes.
I can imagine.
Who wouldn't like it.
Georg!
What about yout?
Aren't you bored caring for other's children...
with all the young lads over there?
No, sir. I like being with the children.
How old are you anyway?
17, sir.
17!
Wouldn't you rather hold a suitor.
...than the Baroness's kids?
- Leave her alone, George! - What did I do?
Won't you get us something to eat, Emma?
If you'll mind the children a moment, I'll go.
He was drunk, but they couldn't stop him.
Leave Frieda alone!
Shove it!
...I'm the rooster on the tower...
Someone cut off the Baron's cabbages.
What?
Someone cut off the Baron's cabbages!
- I never learned. - Neither did I.
You have to count out loud.
One, two, three.
Your pupils will laugh when they see us dancing, sir!
They'd better not!
And stop being so formal with me. Am I so old?
It's coming along!
Well...
Don't look at your feet.
Quite a job, huh?
It's disgusting!
It was an old custom: "Harvest's done, pay everyone...
"If we don't get our due, your cabbage'll be sliced for you. "
Well, they sure slurped down enough!
Come in.
What do you want?
A favor, Father.
Yes?
I found it. It's wounded.
And?
May I keep it?
How will you go about that?
We'll heal it.
And when it's healed?
Won't you be attached to it then?
Will you let it fly away?
Piepsi still lives in a cage.
Yes, but it grew up in captivity.
This one is used to freedom.
Will you set it free, once it's healed?
Have you asked Mother?
Yes.
What did she say?
That it was for you to decide, Father.
Really?
That's what she said.
You'll really take care of it?
Yes.
You realize that's a heavy responsibility?
You'll be its father and mother.
We'll have to find a cage for your patient.
Did you do it, or didn't you?
- Seems somebody saw you. - So what?
They're lucky they still have their heads!
I have to tell you, Father: I'm proud of it!
Sit down!
What did you intend to do?
Tell me.
Come on. Tell me.
You know why, Father.
Because of your mother?
You think they caused her death?
You think that?
That I'm not man enough to settle it?
Know what your act may do for us all?
If Frieda loses her job...
which keeps us alive for a whole year?
If we can't work here in the summer?
You want to marry and run the farm in two years?
You'll feed everyone without the help of the estate?
How do you know they're responsible?
How do you know they're innocent?
I don't know.
But I also don't know the opposite!
What do you mean "not there"?
He's disappeared. I looked all over.
He hasn't disappeared. When did you last see him?
Around 2 o'clock.
Around 2?
- You know what time it is? - I know, Baron.
What does my wife say?
She sent me to you. She's terrified.
I can imagine. You're an idiot, Huber.
Why do you think you're here?
To take care of one child! Is that so hard?
I'm so sorry, Baron.
You can shove your excuses!
Where did you last see my son?
Here. He left to play with the other kids.
- Where? - He didn't say.
My wife noticed nothing either?
The cabbage heads affair upset her.
She retired, indisposed.
Indisposed?
Yes, a terrible migraine attack.
This is a madhouse!
Have you seen my son?
No.
Ask your sons. Sigi has disappeared with some other kids.
- What does it mean? - That he's disappeared, dammit!
The steward's kids said they'd only seen Sigi
very briefly,
that he'd gone off with other kids.
They didn't pay much attention to it.
The search began shortly after midnight.
The searchers, tired, some still drunk,
were divided into two groups:
one searched all the estate's buildings,
the other combed the countryside.
Around 2.30 AM, the siren sounded again
calling the men back to the estate.
Sigi had been found.
He was in the sawmill, tied upside down.
His trousers were pulled down,
his buttocks bleeding from cane strokes.
He was in a state of shock, unable to walk.
Lying on his belly,
he was carried home on a makeshift stretcher.
Next Sunday, after the service, the Baron asked the pastor
to let him speak.
City policemen questioned many of you this week.
To no avail.
First I thought my child was tortured.
...by those who cut off my cabbages.
To get even!
For what?
Supposedly it was my fault their mother died in the sawmill...
which is absurd.
At least, young Felder.
...told the police that was his motive for his "mowing prowess".
I've always helped the Felder family.
But people aren't always grateful.
It takes character.
Don't run away, Felder!
It's your honor I want to salvage!
It turns out the "valiant" Max Felder.
...boasted of his feat to his fiancée. Then the coward.
...hid among his family...
...so he didn't have time to torture my son.
As to his father, he'd bite off his tongue.
...rather than cover for his wayward son.
I'll remind you of a fact that most of you may have forgotten.
Two months ago, our doctor had a riding accident...
...and is still not back from the hospital.
This accident was caused.
...by a wire strung in his garden...
with the explicit intent of bringing him down.
There, too, nobody knows...
...saw or heard anything.
We all know it: those who injured my son...
...and the doctor...
...are here.
...among us...
...in this room.
I won't let such crimes go unpunished...
...and hope nothing like that.
...happens to any of your children.
That's why I call upon you all:
...help me find the culprit or the culprits!
If we fail to find out the truth...
...the peace of our community will be gone.
The landowner's speech frightened the locals.
The Baron wasn't popular,
but as a powerful figure and employer of half the village,
he was respected.
His statement on the community's peace
was ominous.
And the mysterious character of these criminal deeds
awakened the old mistrust of the farmers.
Come in!
Eva!
May I come in?
What a question! Of course, come in.
What's it about?
What's wrong?
They fired me.
What do you mean?
Nothing. They just fired me.
The tutor was also fired.
I don't know where to go.
I'm afraid on the road alone.
Don't worry. Calm down.
Come, sit here.
Calm down, tell me what happened.
Well?
What happened?
The Baron's son isn't at all well.
His parents are desperate and angry.
Now they say the tutor and I are to blame...
...because we didn't pay enough attention to him.
But I'm only there for the twins.
I've always taken care of them very well.
When you and I were dancing...
...the Baroness had given me permission.
I haven't done anything wrong.
I know, come on. Stop crying!
Where can I go now?
My family needs my earnings.
You'll find something else.
You know, the Baron is quick-tempered.
But his bark is worse than his bite.
No, it's all over now, I know it.
The Baroness doesn't want to see anyone.
She wants to take the kids with her, to town...
...or to her parents' estate.
I'll try to talk to her.
We used to play piano together, four-handed.
But I wasn't very good.
Now she's the tutor, who studied the flute in town.
He doesn't play that well.
That's true.
Who does things like that?
What?
Beating a child like that.
I don't know.
Can I stay here tonight?
Don't send me away, sir, please.
How could you think that?
I'll just wait for daybreak, here in the classroom.
Then I'll leave.
At home, they won't understand this.
They'll think I did something wrong.
Want me to come with you?
What?
Tomorrow, after school?
I'll find a carriage, I'll be back by evening.
Why would you do that, sir?
Stop being so formal.
Why would you do that?
Come here, I'll play something for you.
If you want.
Good morning, Father.
I'm back again.
They set me free.
I can see that. So what?
Can you forgive me, Father?
Forgive you for what?
That the estate won't give me any work?
That Frieda was fired in disgrace?
That your brothers and sisters have nothing to eat?
Or what?
The next day, after school, I went to the estate
to inquire about Sigi's health
and to intercede for Eva's reinstatement.
I was told
the Baroness had left that morning with her children.
Reluctantly, the steward lent me a carriage to take Eva home.
As we left the village, we crossed the doctor.
A few days after the Thanksgiving feast,
Rudolf, his four-year-old son, had suddenly disappeared.
This upset everyone in view of the previous events.
The boy was finally found on the main road,
scantily dressed for a trip,
walking eagerly toward the town.
When asked where he was going,
he said he wanted to visit his father.
He fought tooth and nail against being taken home.
The doctor was told about this
and, due to be released soon anyway,
he decided to cut short his stay at the hospital.
Rudi?
He was in the living room.
What do I owe?
3.50 marks.
Thanks.
Have a nice day.
Rudi, where are you?
Hello, Rudi.
Won't you say hello to your father?
No?
I heard.
...you wanted to visit me at the hospital.
And now you lock yourself in?
All right.
Then I don't want to see you.
I'm going away now.
Stay in the toilet, if you want.
Keep well, Rudi.
Your office is ready. Mrs Wagner did it all.
- Why do you tell me that? - I don't know.
I thought you'd like to know.
- She took good care of you? - Yes.
How old are you now?
14.
It's amazing...
...you look so like your mother.
...your mother and I are very worried about you.
Think carefully. Do you sleep badly?
Are you overtired?
No.
Do you have problems at school I don't know?
No, Father.
You don't understand why we worry.
I'll explain it to you.
As you know, I'm also the pastor for Birkenbrunn.
One day, a mother came to see me...
...as her son, about the same age as you...
...had the same symptoms.
...you've shown for some time.
The boy suddenly seemed extremely weary.
His eyes were ringed, he was depressed and joyless.
He avoided looking his parents in the eye...
...and soon was also caught lying.
This lasted about half a year.
Then everything went very fast.
He lost his appetite...
...couldn't sleep any more, his hands began to shake...
...his memory started to fail...
...his face became covered with pustules...
...then his whole body.
Finally, he died.
The body, that I had to bless, looked like an old man's body.
Do you understand now why I'm worried?
What do you think caused these changes.
...that led to that boy's miserable end?
I don't know.
I think you know very well.
Won't you tell me?
No?
Then I'll give you the answer.
The boy had seen someone...
who was harming the finest nerves of his body...
...in the area where God has erected sacred barriers.
The boy imitated this action.
He couldn't stop doing it.
In the end he destroyed all his nerves, and died of it.
I just want to help you.
I love you with all my heart.
Be sincere, Martin.
Why did you blush listening to the story of the poor boy?
Blush?
I don't know. I felt sorry for him.
Is that all?
I think there's another reason.
It's written on your face.
Be sincere...
Martin!
Why are you crying?
Shall I spare you that confession?
Have you been doing what that wretched boy did?
Yes.
My arm!
Glad that you're back. About time.
One can say that. Yes.
It was hard with the children, without you.
I know.
He doesn't like me.
- Who? - Rudi.
He's at a difficult age.
Actually not.
They're always at a difficult age.
Yes.
You didn't miss me.
What does that mean?
Nothing. I said it because it's true.
Nothing like a nice dose of self-hate!
What?
Nothing. Forget it.