Due to the financial crises in Greece, ELENA (27)decides to move to Frankfurt. She gets pregnant by her Greek boyfriend. In order to abort her child, she needs money which is why she takes a job as a Nanny at TESSAs (37) and JANs (38) place. Despite a few struggles with LOTTE (1 1/2)at first, Elena starts to enjoy the time with the little girl and make friends with Tessa. In a careless moment, she looses Lotte and escapes from her responsibility and her conscience. Out of a powerless feeling, blind of grief and hatred, Tessa follows Elena to Athens. In Greece she gets pushed to her limits of humanity and sane. One breath decides over her ability to forgive herself and Elena.
At the beginning of the movie a pharmacist receives an anonymous letter that threatens him of death. And the murder actually happens. Seems very simple but nothing is what it seems and the journey to the truth will be long and difficult. The book is excellent and the movie is at par with it and very faithful to the romance. Great direction. Incredible cast with Gabriele Ferzetti in his best interpretation together with the one in "C'era una volta il West" and Gianmaria Volonté simply beyond reach as always. Many other great actors. Yes I am an enthusiast 'cause there's not a word or a shot out of place in this movie and the plot is ingenious. Who is going to see this film for the first time will be taken away by the developments (the pace seems to be calm but looking in between the kinks you may realize that many things are going rapidly on). Trying to figure out what is the kernel of the happenings and the "reasons" for the murder is a very interesting exercise but it's highly unlikely for the spectator not to experience a big surprise at the end. In my opinion Elio Petri at his best (I mean at the same level of his other masterwork: La classe operaia va in Paradiso).
