Levins Mühle

Based on the last novel by Johannes Bobrowski, this DEFA drama tells of cultural and ethnic tensions in western Prussia village during the 1870s. Johannes, a rich German miller, opens up intentionally the dam on a river one night, raising the water to flood the boat-mill of his rival Levin, a Jewish Pole. Johannes is certain his fellow Germans will never convict him with anything; after all he was only trying to rid the town of a prosperous Jew. The matter is brought to court in which the judge decides in favor of Johannes. Levin resigns and leaves town with his gypsy girlfriend, Marie. But the case is not easily forgotten by the townspeople. When a circus comes to the town and performs a re-enactment of Johannes’s attack on Levin’s mill, the villagers join together in solidarity to condemn Johannes. The circus leaves, but the shame remains, and Johannes eventually leave the community.