Before Winter Comes

After World War II ends, British Major Giles Burnside is assigned to a refugee camp in occupied Austria. His mission is to sort displaced civilians into either the Russian or American zones and maintain order despite language barriers. The camp becomes his first postwar posting and a test of his by-the-book approach.

Janovic, a multilingual refugee, proves invaluable by translating Burnside's orders for the diverse group and helping run day-to-day operations. His linguistic gifts bridge communication gaps within the camp and keep the operation running smoothly. He gradually becomes a linchpin in the camp's functioning.

Janovic's rapport with Maria, a charming innkeeper near the camp, grows into a romance that adds warmth to the tense environment. Burnside later discovers the affair, which complicates loyalties and duty. The relationship introduces emotional stakes for everyone involved.

Janovic is revealed to be a Red Army deserter who should be returned to Soviet authorities. Burnside faces a dilemma: he could help him escape, or he could follow orders and risk triggering political consequences. The situation tests Burnside's sense of mercy against his military duty.

During a down moment, Burnside tells Pilkington a story about a brave Major who tried to defuse a bomb on a bridge. The tale switches when a general reveals Burnside was that Major, casting his bravery as a costly mistake. The revelation implies that his actions led to the deaths of hundreds and derailed his career.

Janovic makes a vain attempt to escape to neutral Switzerland, seeking freedom away from the occupation zones. American troops capture him and return him to Burnside. The setback compounds the dilemma of protecting him versus obeying orders.

Burnside arranges a release for Janovic with the plan to let him go toward Linz and freedom. The British army informs him, however, that Janovic must be sent to Freistadt to avoid provoking a Russian response. Burnside reluctantly accepts this grim command, balancing duty and compassion.

To conceal the true destination, Burnside has the transport labeled Linz as it heads to Freistadt. Lieutenant Pilkington arrives and threatens to intervene, but he is ordered not to. The convoy departs with Janovic toward an uncertain fate.

Pilkington races after the truck but arrives too late to stop the transfer. Janovic ends up in the custody of Russian soldiers, and his fate remains unknown. The sequence underscores how competing commands can seal a refugee's fate.

Burnside is reassigned to Indonesia and another camp, far from his original unit. He is denied the chance to rejoin his unit, a decision that reshapes his career and life after the war. The relocation highlights the impersonal nature of postwar redeployments.

Pilkington visits Maria and confronts Burnside in a moment of anger and heartbreak. The confrontation reveals the personal costs of Burnside's decisions and the damage caused by the affair. The scene adds a layer of tragedy to the camp's already fraught moral landscape.

Burnside is commended by his sergeant for being a fine officer, offering some official vindication of his service. The film ends with Janovic in a truck surrounded by Russian soldiers, his fate left unresolved. The closing moments emphasize the human cost and moral ambiguity of postwar duty.