Village

A city-dwelling woman relocates to a small village near the former border between East and West Germany. What is she seeking, and what will she encounter? Rural life in the era of globalization becomes an adventure. History lives in objects, stories, and customs that have been recorded for 800 years. Wars and famines have left their traces, just as churches, political parties, and various forms of government. The changes of the times, shaped by television, have almost obscured the old rhythms of life; supermarket offerings have altered eating habits and stockpiling economies. Is this folklore nostalgia or a matter of preserving one’s way and quality of life by keeping the old customs and habits, such as preserving old varieties of plants and boiling down cucumbers? The village becomes a mutual exchange of experiences and garden produce. The village is like an onion: it reveals ever-new, surprising layers and leads us deep into unwritten pasts.