A war-scarred soldier arrives in a remote village, claiming to be the heir to an abandoned farm. Though initially met with mistrust, the stranger quickly wins over the villagers thanks to the documents he brings, his extraordinary industriousness, and his willingness to submit to the strict rules of the Protestant community. Amid the brutal realities of 17th-century Germany, a person with no rights can only truly be themselves in disguise—which is why the title character must carefully conceal his true nature and identity.