May1945:theendoftheSecondWorldWarintheTyroleanAlps.SSmanAntonhasdesertedandbeenshot.Ontherunfromhisunit,heswapshisSSuniformforthatofadeadWehrmachtsoldieranddiscoversalonelymountainhut.Hannah,aJewishwoman,ishidinghere.ShetakesAntoninandtendstohiswounds.
Butthereisgreatmistrustbetweenthetwo.Togethertheycopewiththeharsheverydaylifeintheremotehut.Theyarelookedafterby16-year-oldpeasantgirlCharlotte,whosefamilypaysHannahnottobetraythem.Andatnight,theyhearfightingbetweentheGermantroopsandItalianpartisans.Overtime,acautiousfamiliaritydevelopsbetweenAntonandHannah-he,whohasdoneterriblethingsinthewar,she,whohaslostherfamilyandhasbeenstrugglingwithfearandlonelinessuphereinthemountainsformonths.Theygrowcloser.HannahfindsoutthatAntonwasnoordinarysoldier.HewasintheSS,amanofconviction,atleastatfirst.Brutaltruthscometolight.Thewarisasgoodasover,butwhatkindoffutureawaitsthem?
Georgturnsupatthehut:He'sbeenlookingforAnton,huntinghimdown.HewastheonewhoshotAnton-hisbestfriend.Georgisfightingabattlethathaslongbeenhopeless,drivenbyhatredandthewilltodestroy.AndhealsowantstokillHannah.Highinthemountains,thedecisionismade.
TheDeserterisastoryaboutwarandguilt,butalsoabouthelpfulnessandhumanity.