Thomas (Brenno Furmann), a German soldier who has been dishonorably discharged from the army, returns home for his mother's funeral. He decides to renovate the house he has inherited from her but the only work he can find is a terrible job picking cucumbers. By chance, he meets Ali (Hilmi Sozer), a successful Turkish immigrant who runs a large chain of snack stores in the area. Since he has lost his license, he hires Thomas as his driver and assistant. Also helping him out in the business is his attractive wife Laura (Nina Hoss). Their marriage is on shaky grounds, and Thomas feels an immediate erotic connection with her. After a day at the beach together, Ali falls into a drunken stupor on the bed while his assistant and his wife have intercourse on the floor in the hallway. Thomas and Laura secretly carry on their affair and are ecstatic to learn that Ali is going out of town on a trip. The two lovers hatch a plan to unite with each other.

Christian Petzold directs Jerichow, which had its premier at the Venice Film Festival and also was showcased at the Toronto Film Festival. An obsession with money dominates the lives of these three characters. Thomas wants a job that pays well and gives him a chance to express his unbridled hedonism. Laura spent some time in prison for the debts she piled up. And all Ali is really interested in is making as much money as he can and retiring to his homeland of Turkey. He is insanely jealous of anyone who looks at Laura and does not trust any of his clients who, seeing this, make sure they skim money off him every chance they get. The finale of Jerichow dashes the expectations of these money-grubbers, and their dreams and schemes come to a swift demise.

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