The Foster Boy

Max, an orphan with a deep love for the accordion, is sent to the Bosigers' farm. He starts to navigate a harsh environment and builds a fragile bond with the people around him. This is the moment where his dream begins to take shape, even as the day-to-day life remains difficult.

Max and Berteli grow closer as fellow foster children who are treated more as servants than family. They receive meals and schooling, yet their days are defined by strict, cold routines. Through shared loneliness, their friendship becomes a beacon of hope.

Berteli casually reveals Max's cherished rabbit to Jakob, who coldly kills it and brings the meat to Mrs. Bosiger. Max discovers the violence and witnesses how cruelty is normalized in their world. The incident starkly shows the fragility of safety on the farm.

At school, Miss Sigrist shows a genuine interest in Max and encourages his musical talent. She plans for him to perform on Schwingen Day, offering him a rare chance to shine. This moment hints at possible escape from the oppressive routine.

Schwingen Day brings the community together, but it also exposes the vulnerability of the two children. Jakob makes sexual advances toward Miss Sigrist, and Max steps in to defend her, risking confrontation. Jakob retaliates by burning Max's accordion, a brutal act that shatters any sense of safety.

After the confrontation, Jakob's abuse of Berteli escalates, with nightly visits that leave her fearful and isolated. Max feels trapped, unable to protect Berteli as the danger grows. The farm's quiet veneer hides a growing terror for the children.

Berteli longs to return to her mother, who cannot care for her but begs the man in her life to keep Berteli. He refuses, and Berteli ultimately chooses to stay with the Bosigers rather than return. Her choice cements her attachment to the fragile, unsafe world around her.

Miss Sigrist attempts to intervene again, going to the authorities to expose the abuse. She loses her job as a consequence, but she leaves Max with a glimmer of hope: a brand-new accordion.

Berteli becomes pregnant, and Max confides in Miss Sigrist about Jakob's actions. The revelation intensifies the crisis and puts Berteli at greater risk. Miss Sigrist's involvement draws sharper attention to the abuse at the farm.

Miss Sigrist visits the farm and tells Mrs. Bosiger that Jakob has been having sex with Berteli. Mrs. Bosiger erupts in anger and ejects Miss Sigrist from the house. The rift further isolates the victims and hardens the family’s stance.

A darker turn follows as Mrs. Bosiger forces Berteli to drink castor oil in an attempted abortion. Max hears Berteli scream in the night and tries to reach her, but Mr. Bosiger, heavily intoxicated, prevents him and makes him play the accordion to drown out the screams. The act marks a devastating abuse of power.

Berteli's death comes in ambiguous circumstances, leaving it unclear whether she took her own life or succumbed to infection. The tragedy shocks the farm and those who are aware of the abuse. The blood-stained sheets become a haunting symbol of what happened.

Authorities begin to investigate the farm, and Max shouts the truth about Jakob's actions during the Reverend's prayer. Mr. Bosiger presents the bottle of castor oil as damning evidence, broadening the inquiry into foster-system abuses. The case expands beyond a single family and into systemic critique.

Max escapes to Argentina, finding work on a ship and continuing to play his accordion as he pursues the dream he always had. The journey marks a physical and emotional departure from the traumatic past. He uses music to sustain himself and honor those he left behind.

In the final scene, an older Max performs before an audience in Argentina, his music a living tribute to Berteli and to the rabbit he mourns. He narrates that he is no longer beaten and that he will keep communicating with Berteli through song. The dream he held onto becomes a realized future, anchored by memory.