AGAINST a backdrop of impending crisis, two people thrown together by circumstance may discover love. In contrast with its frantic opening sequence, this story of a Polish woman's relationship with the Dutch farmer who shelters her, unfolds tentatively, according to the pace of a growing trust.

Beaten-up and terrified, Anna flees the con men who raped her as a prelude to forced prostitution. Vulnerable as a foreigner with no knowledge of Dutch, she makes her way out of town only to collapse once she reaches the farm owned by Henk, a bachelor living on his own. What follows is the story of their mutual transformation. Anna slowly recovers and begins to thrive on the farm. Henk's rough edges smooth out under Anna's care, even as his financial worries increase. Long, pregnant shots of Anna and Henk staring at the horizon together silently fill out the growing feeling between them. Slightly jarring music underrides this love story, however, preventing a complete relaxation of tension. The henchmen are reintroduced to fulfill the promise of violence that has been slowly building.

Director Traida uses close-up shots to full effect as the subtle play of emotions across Anna and Henk's faces speak the love and conflict their voices cannot. The timing of events toward the end of the film is somewhat startling, with sex immediately following violence, and resolution appearing almost out of nowhere. But the passion in the actors' performances carry the film to its conclusion.