hafstein

May 1914: Luska, now Lala Hafstein, adopted daughter of Jakob and Sarah, is a young woman with one desire-to study at Prague’s Art Academy-but her parents won’t allow their single daughter to leave home. She contrives a marriage to childhood friend Armin, the academy’s star student and her father’s wealthy employer’s son, convincing him it would silence gossip about his disinterest in women, which Lala naïvely attributes to gentlemanly manners. Doubts arise and she wants to end the sham, but both families have reasons to encourage the engagement. Armin, suddenly confident they can make their marriage ＂real＂, presents her with an heirloom ring. Then Lala uncovers proof that Armin and his male classmate are more than good friends, dashing her faint hope for a genuine marriage.

Doubt becomes desperation. Yet she’s haunted by a recurring vision-wearing her ring and feeling the passionate embrace of her true beloved, unseen behind her. As both families travel to Berlin for Armin’s art show on August first, Lala devises a way to change her destiny, but no one is prepared for what begins on that momentous night. The world around her plunges into war, reigniting the horrors of her early life. She alone must battle the nightmares of the past to safeguard her future.