Synopsis: Thomas, a former soldier who has been dishonorably discharged from the army, returns to his hometown of Jerichow. He has inherited his mother's house and plans to renovate it and look for a job. One night, Thomas meets Ali, a Turkish immigrant who owns a chain of snack bars in the area. Always suspicious of the people who work for him, Ali takes an unusual liking to Thomas. Laura is Ali's restless, beautiful wife. Thomas notices Laura and Ali's strained relationship and watches them perform everyday rituals, like any married couple. But something doesn't seem right. A day at the beach unknowingly sets in motion a series of events that will change the course of their lives.

Filmmaker Bio: Born in 1960 in Hilden Germany, Christian Petzold studied German literature and theater at the Free University in Berlin. From 1988-1994, he went on to get a degree in film at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (dffb), while working as a directing assistant to Harun Farocki and Hartmut Bitomsky. By the time he made "The State I am In" (Die Innere Sicherheit) Petzold had earned a reputation as one of his generation's most talented young German directors. His two films prior to "Jerichow," "Ghosts" (Gespenster) and "Yella" were in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. Petzold lives in Berlin.