In a self-righteous, paranoid society that is weary of strangers, Skalde, once a newcomer herself, has earned the community’s respect and her place among them. After a neighbour’s sheep goes missing, she meets little Meisis, who has a secret. Skalde cares for the strange child, but by doing so, she breaks the village’s code and loses her privileges. The community, protective of its territory, begins to suspect that Meisis isn’t what she seems. To defend her, Skalde seeks to barter a deal sealed in blood…

Fear of the unknown, identity, isolation, and boundaries drawn with chalk. Swiss director Bösch has adapted Helene Bukowski’s 2021 novel into an explosive series of events that unfold in an indefinable but recognizable spacetime. It’s a fairy tale with magic, wolves, and witches, and an allegory that trudges through the underpinnings of modern society, reminiscent of von Trier’s Dogville (2003). The film features the foremost actors of the German-speaking world, including Ulrich Matthes, who played lead in Dāvis Sīmanis’ fictional debut feature Exiled (2016).