In the Shadow of the Mountain

Farmer Regina suffers greatly from her childlessness, because it means that the Hallwanger farm has no heir. A former suitor, whom she rejected for Martin Hallwanger's sake, also torments her with references to her childlessness.

The year is 1800. Leopold von Röckl and Ferdinand von Wangenheim, two extremely fun-loving guards lieutenants, before whom no coat is safe, leave the residence of the sovereign for a while - and for good reason: Leopold has begun an affair with Princess Gabriele, the sovereign's daughter, and the excitement surrounding it should subside somewhat in his absence; Ferdinand, meanwhile, travels to see Privy Councillor Krallinger, who is supposed to teach him a little about manners.

To resolve a feud between two villages over a horse, the burgomasters propose that a man from one town marry a woman from the other.

A gambling-drama based on Dostoevsky’s works: The retired General Kirileff is addicted to gambling and also has a costly affair. He takes out a loan from the greedy imposter Vincent, for which he is to pay an exorbitant interest rate. Vincent, for his part, wants to get closer to Kirileff’s daughter Nina, who is to inherit her grandmother’s fortune one day. Nina tries to help her father and goes to the gambling tables, only to lose a lot of money. She asks Alexej, her father’s secretary, to play for her. Alexej is in love with Nina and would do anything for her. He plays; at first loses; then asks Nina to get Vincent out of there. Once that happens, he wins a large amount of money, becomes overbearing and treats Nina like a prostitute.

The residents of the villages Strasslach and Rott are anything but friends. The residents of the “enemy” town are ridiculed at every chance the residents of the other village can get to do so. And it’s no different, when Rott is getting ready to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its founding. The residents of Strasslach ridicule their neighbors, because the Rotters don’t want to celebrate the anniversary, because it’ll cost money. Even the church doesn’t have an organ, because that would cost money, too.

For many years, Ulrich, the hereditary forester, and Steinbach, the landowner, were the best of friends. But one day, this friendship is put to a severe test: Driven by financial need, Steinbach wants to have the forest cleared, which Ulrich condemns as brutal exploitation of nature – and therefore refuses to grant permission for the project. To clear the way for his plan, Steinbach ensures that Ulrich is dismissed as forester. When, a few days later, the dam built by Steinbach is blown up and the floodwaters inundate Steinbach's sawmill, suspicion immediately falls on Ulrich. The hereditary forester is ostracized, threatened, and even fears for his life.