The Nasty Girl

Sonja, a German high school student, wins an essay contest and embarks on a trip to Paris. Martin Wegmus begins teaching physics at Sonja's school, and one of her classmates falls in love with him. Almost by chance, Wegmus and Sonja share a kiss, and he promises to return for her.

In the following year she enters the contest again, choosing 'My Town During the Third Reich' as her topic. Her research begins in earnest, pulling at a thread that will unravel the town's idealized image. She uncovers facets of the past that contradict the town's self-image.

Her research reveals that almost all prominent families in the town belonged to the Nazi Party long before it rose to power. This paints a picture of complicity that contradicts the town's idealized memory. The revelation sets the stage for further investigations.

Local authorities block her efforts, hindering access to archives and records. She continues to press on despite official resistance, determined to uncover the truth.

She uncovers that there were eight concentration camps in the area and that Jews were forcibly expelled and had their property confiscated. The scale of the town's complicity becomes clearer as she digs deeper. These findings deepen her resolve.

Sonja marries Martin Wegmus, a decision that the townspeople interpret as her abandoning the historical investigation. The marriage introduces domestic pressures and expectations that complicate her pursuit. Despite this, she continues to pursue her research.

She bears two daughters and pursues studies in history at the university. Balancing family life with scholarly ambitions proves challenging, and her husband feels the strain as he cares for the children. The family endures the ongoing tension while she keeps digging into the past.

She resumes her historical research and wins court cases that grant access to archives, though she sometimes relies on cunning to obtain the needed documents. The legal successes mark a turning point in confronting the town's past.

The hostility of the townspeople grows from verbal abuse to threats and physical assaults as they attempt to silence her. Yet Sonja refuses to back down and continues her investigations despite the danger.

The family survives a bomb attack, a stark reminder of the peril surrounding her pursuit. The incident reinforces Sonja's resolve to bring the truth about the town's Nazi past to light.

Over time, the townspeople shift their stance and begin acknowledging the past. In a public gesture, they erect a bust of Sonja at the town hall.

Although the bust is erected, Sonja views it as a silencing gesture and rejects the honor. She remains dedicated to uncovering the truth on her own terms.