With stunning black and white cinematography, director Michael Haneke (Cach�) has made a haunting, mesmerizing story of corruption as security that was the winner of Palme d�Or at Cannes. In a small northern German village populated by devout Protestants in the days leading up to WW1 a number of unexplained accidents befall both adults and children. Although they first appear coincidental, these events soon seem to be not accidents at all. The mild-mannered schoolteacher is determined to discover the truth, while also courting a beautiful local girl, but he does not know what goes on within the houses of his village when the doors are closed.