钟表匠伯纳德从一个古老橱柜的暗层发现了一束金色的发辫,并不由自主地产生了迷恋而无法自拔,在卧室里对它情意绵绵地说话,甚至在参加音乐会时把发辫安放在身旁的座位上。伯纳德一直与约瑟夫的妻子特蕾塞暗中往来,有时还与他们夫妇一起外出吃饭,迟钝的约瑟夫对此毫无察觉。自从迷上了发辫,无数的噩梦便纠缠着伯纳德,时常让他在夜里毛骨悚然,为此他去向祖父忏悔,但毫无用处,不久就因发烧而卧床不起。特蕾塞把伯纳德的夹克送到洗衣店洗,发现了衣服口袋里的发辫,就把它扔进了废物箱。伯纳德的身体开始好转。特蕾塞向约瑟夫坦白了自己与伯纳德的关系。最后的镜头是伯纳德与特蕾塞走在公园里,身边是许多放风筝的孩子。
In the Alpine village of Tolzbad in the 1800s, the townsfolk talk quietly and restrain their movements lest they incur avalanches. This atmosphere lends itself to repressed emotions - shown through the parallel stories of butler student Johann lusting after his mother (an old flame of the mysterious Count Knotkers) and Klara's attraction to her father (who lusts after his other...