In 1938 a young woman leaves Germany to search for her love Erich in Reichenburg Bohemia Erich is secretly fighting the fascists so Hilde ends up becoming a housemaid in the home of a German joiner in order to carry on their relationship The joiners son notices the passionate love shared between Hilde and Erich To him the young lady embodies the feminine ideal When Hilde receives news of Erichs death she descends into an uninhibited lifestyle in an attempt to forget