In the year of the turtle

Snow covers the town in winter. Heinz Kamp, widower and former bookkeeper is unable to sleep. While out for a noctural walk he meets a strange girl.

He offers her acommodation in his home. On the next day the girl has disappeared. When Kamp returns home on the following evening he finds that the door to his home has been broken open.... perhaps the girl has had something to do with this? The only thing he knows about her is her name, Claudia. She surprises him by turning up at his home one evening, in a state of manifest distress. Kamp helps her, but he isn't certain that he is doing the right thing. Although he hasn't expected anything more from life for a long time, he takes up new interests. The neighbours begin to talk about him. In particular Herta Klose, who had harboured hopes in his direction, feels neglected. Kamp carries out investigations about Claudia. He knows that she needs money. He takes out all his cash from the bank, cashes in his life assurance policy and hides the money in his home. Claudia turns up again full of energy.

Kamp vacillates between care and mistrust, love and suspicion. But the warmth and charm of the girl arouse feelings in him. What does she want from him? One day Claudia disappears for good - with all his savings. Kamp's world is shattered. But then things take an unexpected turn.

Heinz August Kamp: Heinz Bennent | Claudia Bzdega: Karina Fallenstein | Hertha Klose: Anke Tegtmeyer | Achim: Arpad Kraupa and Herbert Weissbach, Claudia Burckhardt, Andreas Thiel

Director: Ute Wieland | Screenplay: Ute Wieland, based on the novel "Sterbetage" by H.W. Kettenbach | Director of photography: Karl-Walter Lindenlaub | Costume designer: Katharina von Martius | Make up artist: Liane Lutter | Recording supervisor: Hardy Hardt | Mix: Milan Bor | Set designer: Günther Naumann | Editor: Helga Borsche | Music: Nick Glowna | 1st assistent director: Nicole Front-Bergner | Production manager: Stefaan Schieder | Location manager: Lisa Liebsch | Production assistent: Jürgen Bieske-Feddern | Producer: Hans W. Geißendörfer | Associated producer: Hartwig Schmidt

Drama, Germany 1989 | A film by Geißendörfer Film- and Fernsehproduktion in cooperation with WDR