The Boat Is Full

In the summer of 1942, a small group escapes from a German transport train traveling through Switzerland. They are led by Judith Kruger (Tina Engel), whose husband Hannes (Hans Diehl) is already living in Switzerland as an interned refugee, and the deserted soldier Karl Schneider (Gerd David). Also present are Lazar Opstrowskij (Curt Bois), an old Jew from Vienna, Judith's young brother Olaf Landau (Martin Walz) and two children, the girl Gitty (Simone) and the French-speaking Maurice (Laurent). They seek shelter at the Fluckiger family's inn. Farmer's wife Anna (Renate Steiger) is less than enthusiastic and her husband Franz (Mathias Gnadinger) even has the village policeman called. The refugees are first housed and hidden in the wash house. Anna seeks advice from the village priest (Klaus Steiger). There she hears that deserters and parents with children would probably not be deported. Compassion wins out. The frightened group is forcibly turned into a family with grandfather and children. However, the district police officer Bigler (Michael Gempart) carries out his duties to the letter. But humanity doesn't stand a chance next to the laws.