Before Winter Comes

In the immediate aftermath of World War II, British Major Giles Burnside is assigned to a refugee camp in occupied Austria. His job is to organize the flow of displaced civilians and decide who is sent to the Russian zone or the American zone. The work is bureaucratic and tense, with language barriers complicating every instruction.

Janovic, a multilingual refugee, quickly proves indispensable by translating between Burnside, other officers, and the diverse civilians. He helps relay Burnside's orders and smooths the camp's day-to-day operations across many languages. The pair form a functional if fraught working relationship as the camp stabilizes.

Janovic falls for the innkeeper Maria, while it is revealed that she is having an affair with Burnside. The personal betrayal adds tension to Burnside's already difficult leadership and threatens professional boundaries. Maria's loyalty becomes another factor in the fragile dynamics of the camp.

Janovic is revealed to be a Red Army deserter who would face execution if handed over to Soviet authorities. Burnside grapples with the dilemma of protecting him versus following orders. He offers to help Janovic escape, testing the limits of mercy and duty.

During a quiet moment, Burnside tells Pilkington a story about a brave Major who tried to defuse a bridge bomb to win a medal. As the tale unfolds, the narrator reveals that Burnside was the very Major and that his 'brave' act led to the deaths of hundreds. The revelation leaves Burnside haunted and changes his perception of his own command.

Janovic makes a vain attempt to escape to Switzerland but is captured by American forces and returned to Burnside. The incident tests Burnside's resolve and the operational pressures of the camp. It also demonstrates the shifting hands of authority in the postwar corridor.

The British army informs Burnside that Janovic is to be sent to Freistadt to avoid a confrontation with the Russians. To protect Janovic, Burnside begins to arrange his release to Linz, effectively masking the route from the Soviets. However, these maneuvers lay bare the tension between humanitarian impulses and strategic expediency.

Reluctantly, Burnside has Janovic transported toward Freistadt, but he labels the truck as Linz to conceal the real destination. Lieutenant Pilkington arrives, threatening to intervene, but is ordered not to interfere. The scene underscores the moral compromises being made to maintain stability.

Pilkington chases the truck in a desperate bid to stop the handoff, but he arrives too late. Janovic is delivered into the Russian zone, and Burnside's plan to shield him collapses. The moment crystallizes the conflicting loyalties at play in the camp.

After the events, Burnside is reassigned to another camp in Indonesia, effectively ending his chance to rejoin his old unit. The move signals the consequences of his actions and the heavy burden of command. The audience sees him stepping into a new assignment while the unresolved situation in Austria lingers.

Pilkington visits Maria and breaks down angrily at Burnside, exposing the personal damage caused by the mission. Despite the interpersonal turmoil, Burnside is commended by his sergeant for being a capable officer. The scene ties together professional appraisal and emotional fallout as the story moves toward its close.

The film ends with Janovic in a truck surrounded by Russian soldiers, his fate left deliberately uncertain. This final image emphasizes the precarious nature of postwar refugee handling and the unpredictable outcomes of political decisions. The audience is left to ponder who survives the collapse of the humanitarian mission.