May1945:theendoftheSecondWorldWarintheTyroleanAlpsSSmanAntonhasdesertedandbeenshotOntherunfromhisunit,heswapshisSSuniformforthatofadeadWehrmachtsoldieranddiscoversalonelymountainhutHannah,aJewishwoman,ishidinghereShetakesAntoninandtendstohiswounds                  
                　　ButthereisgreatmistrustbetweenthetwoTogethertheycopewiththeharsheverydaylifeintheremotehutTheyarelookedafterby16yearoldpeasantgirlCharlotte,whosefamilypaysHannahnottobetraythemAndatnight,theyhearfightingbetweentheGermantroopsandItalianpartisansOvertime,acautiousfamiliaritydevelopsbetweenAntonandHannahhe,whohasdoneterriblethingsinthewar,she,whohaslostherfamilyandhasbeenstrugglingwithfearandlonelinessuphereinthemountainsformonthsTheygrowcloserHannahfindsoutthatAntonwasnoordinarysoldierHewasintheSS,amanofconviction,atleastatfirstBrutaltruthscometolightThewarisasgoodasover,butwhatkindoffutureawaitsthem                  
                　　Georgturnsupatthehut:He'sbeenlookingforAnton,huntinghimdownHewastheonewhoshotAntonhisbestfriendGeorgisfightingabattlethathaslongbeenhopeless,drivenbyhatredandthewilltodestroyAndhealsowantstokillHannahHighinthemountains,thedecisionismade                  
                　　TheDeserterisastoryaboutwarandguilt,butalsoabouthelpfulnessandhumanity