Tiefland (film)

Tiefland Lowlands is a 1954 German film directed, produced, cowritten, edited by and starring Leni Riefenstahl, and based on the 1903 eponymous opera composed by Eugen dAlbert and written Rudolph Lothar and based itself in the catalan play Tiefland by ngel Guimer. The film costars Bernhard Minetti, and is Riefenstahls last feature film as both director and lead actress.

Pedro, a shepherd, is sleeping in his Pyrenean mountain hut when his herd is attacked by a lone wolf. He awakens to defend his sheep, and strangles the wolf. In the Catalan lowlands northeastern Spain, the construction of a canal is completed and diverts water from the farms and fields of the peasants to support the prized bulls of the landowner, Don Sebastian, marquis of Roccabruno. The request of the peasants for water is arrogantly rejected. He has, however, significant debts and needs money. The rich Amelia plans to marry him, but he offends her.Martha, a beggar dancer, has come to the village, and entertains the people. Sebastian sees her and takes her to his castle, enchanted by her beauty and grace. He keeps her as his mistress in a golden cage. Martha pleads with him to listen to the plight of the peasants, but he rejects their request again. Seeing his arrogance and inhumanity she runs away. She collapses in exhaustion in the mountains where Pedro finds her and takes her to his hut. Sebastians men locate her and return her to the castle. ........

Source: Wikipedia