A tense and precise reimagining of James Cain’s oft-interpreted noir thriller THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, JERICHOW is the work of German filmmaker Christian Petzold, director of the prize-winning 2007 film YELLA. Set in a sleepy, nondescript outpost of the former East Germany, the story is arranged around three familiar archetypes: the volatile, abusive husband, Ali; the bored, dutiful wife, Laura; and the mysterious, rugged stranger,Thomas. Down-on-his-luck Thomas, portrayed by Benno Fürmann, is a former soldier recently dispatched from Afghanistan who returns to his childhood home to bury his dead mother. Penniless after a run-in with loan sharks, Thomas meets Ali (Hilmi Sözer), a brutish but tactically sharp businessman who manages a stable of roadside snack stands. When Ali, who is prone to bouts of drunken driving, gets his license suspended, he hires Thomas as his delivery driver and right-hand man. Before long, Thomas and Ali’s comely German wife, Laura (Nina Hoss), are drawn together--as much by shared circumstances as carnal yearnings--and hatch a plan to escape from Ali’s abusive grip. With a lean and plot-driven storyline that’s respectful to its pulp-genre origins, Petzold’s somber interpretation is aided by a taut, concise screenplay that avoids superfluous detail and self-conscious arthouse touches. Aided by superb performances by Fürmann, Sözer, and Hoss, JERICHOW is a compelling, thought-provoking, and ultimately thrilling meditation on the classic love triangle.