Die Liebe eines Priesters

Michael, a hardened petty criminal, has made a hot score with two accomplices. On a hectic escape through the streets of Prague, he notices a young woman who is about to throw herself off a bridge into the Vltava. Quick-witted, he jumps in after her and saves Klara's life - and his own. For Michael, it is a moment of enlightenment that leads him back to his fatherly friend Father Christoph. The priest prays hard for him and hides his protégé in a monastery, where Michael enters the seminary and develops his talent as a restorer. Six years later, Michael returns to Prague and meets Klara again by chance. He has never forgotten her, but she does not recognize her former rescuer.

Directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb, Die Liebe eines Priesters leans on a strong ensemble — Erol Sander, Maximilian Schell, Sonsee Neu — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2005.