by Mark Murton

Original Title: Bittere Ernte

Directed by: Agnieszka Holland

Synopsis: In the winter of 1942, Silesian peasant farmer Leon (Armin Mueller-Stahl) finds a fleeing Jewish woman, Rosa (Elisabeth Trissenaar), hiding in the woods and secretes her in his cellar. But soon the lonely, middle-aged, catholic bachelor is torn between his desire to do good and his carnal desires.

Purr Blur: One day Rosa hears female voices just outside her hiding place. Frightened, she backs away knocking over a bucket in the process. The noise scares the two women, workers on Leon’s farm, and they run up the steps to the outside. Spotting a small upturned pail of milk, the younger of the women, Magda (Isa Haller), exclaims “Thank God. It was only a cat,” and stops briefly to pick up a surprised tabby cat.

Final Mewsings: Cats are willing to take the blame when it’s to protect the innocent.

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