Tobias Horvath is a Hungarian immigrant who was forced to emigrate to Switzerland after murdering his mother, a prostitute and, he erroneously thinks also her young lover who happens to be Tobias’ natural father. In his new country Tobias goes by the name of Sandor Lester and works in a factory that makes timepieces, but dreams of becoming a great writer.
He is in love with a girl called Line but ignores the fact that she is his sister, that they share the same father; the man Tobias is convinced he stabbed to death all those years ago.
Based on the novel by Agota Kristof.