TunnelChild

1969 The Prague Spring has been demolished New barbed wire installations have been erected Julia who is thirteen has moved with her mother to a village in northern Austria which lies on the Czech border Julia has not spoken since her fathers death Her isolation increases in the village where she is an outsider Provoked into proving her courage by some young villagers she walks into nomans land She discovers a forgotten tunnel which leads to a construction site on the Czech side of the border Julia makes the acquaintance of Roland a fortyfiveyearold surveyor on the other side An ambivalent fatherdaughter relationship develops between them Roman is the only one to whom she confides the secret of her border crossings Due to his affection for her she regains her ability to speak And she starts to feel at ease with Alexander who is her age Roman makes new plans at Julias urging The insurmountable border foritfications will remain vulnerable