Summary
Jacob, a farmer and war veteran, returns home to his wife, Marie, and seeks a plot of land from the local Baron. Granted only a barren, rocky acreage, the couple struggles to survive. Their hardship intensifies when the Baron demands Marie serve as a wet nurse for his married daughter, Anya, threatening eviction if she refuses. While in the Baron's household, Marie endures unwelcome advances from Anya's husband, leading to a scandal that shatters her reputation. Escaping her employers, Marie finds herself further degraded when the police mistakenly identify her as a prostitute and issue her a 'yellow passport.' Now disgraced and branded, she begins the uncertain journey back to her husband, unsure of the reception that awaits her.
Synopsis
Jacob, a farmer, returns from the war to his wife Marie and begs the landlord baron for a plot of land to rent. The Baron grants the request, but only for a barren, rocky, useless acreage. The pair struggle to make do on this land, but then the Baron demands that Maria leave her husband to serve as wet nurse to his married daughter Anya's new baby, on threat of eviction. While nursing the daughter's baby, Maria receives unwelcome attentions from the daughter's husband, and a scandal erupts, ruining Maria in her husband's eyes. When she escapes from her employers and seeks to return home, the police give her the yellow passport signifying a prostitute, further degrading her. She approaches home, unsure of the reception that awaits her.
