The Divine Order 2017

In the midst of the transformative 1970s, where black power, women’s liberation, and the sexual revolution swept across America, Nora Ruckstuhl, portrayed by Marie Leuenberger, finds herself confined to the mundane life of a housewife in a quaint Swiss farming village. Living with her husband, Hans (Maximilian Simonischek), their two sons, and her father-in-law, Nora feels increasingly discontented with her household duties. When she suggests returning to work to escape her boredom, Hans proposes having another child instead, dismissing her aspirations.

Troubled by her niece Hanna’s situation, who is heartbroken after her mother prohibits her from seeing her much older boyfriend, Nora ultimately allows her to meet him one last time. However, their excursion leads to Hanna running off with him. As Nora wanders the downtown area, she encounters a group of women demonstrating for women’s suffrage. Gradually, she finds herself acknowledging her support for women’s rights, receiving flyers and reading materials, including Betty Friedan’s influential book, The Feminine Mystique.

Despite her growing desire to work, her husband remains firmly unsupportive. The situation escalates when Nora discovers that Hanna has been detained in Zurich and is being sent to a juvenile detention facility, adding to her frustration. Motivated by her niece’s plight and fueled by her recent personal awakenings, Nora boldly stands up for women’s suffrage during a meeting at her women’s club. Her impassioned declaration catches the eye of Vroni (Sibylle Brunner), an elder woman who claims a lifelong commitment to the women’s right to vote. Vroni convinces Nora to host an event to rally support for the cause, despite Nora’s initial hesitance, especially with her husband away on military service for two weeks.

While reflecting on her past ownership of a pub, Vroni meets Graziella (Marta Zoffoli), an Italian woman eager to turn the pub into a pizzeria. Graziella’s enthusiasm for their cause strengthens their bond. They are soon joined by Theresa (Therese Affolter), Nora’s sister-in-law, who is infuriated when Hanna is released from juvenile detention only to be placed in a women’s prison. Spurred by her daughter’s shame, Theresa joins forces with Nora, believing that achieving the right to vote could aid in her efforts to secure Hanna’s freedom.

Together, Nora, Vroni, and Theresa venture to the city, where they participate in a women’s rights protest and attend a workshop teaching about self-discovery, causing Nora to confront her own unfulfilled desires. Reinvigorated by her newfound knowledge, she returns to her village to advocate for women’s suffrage. However, her speech fails to ignite enthusiasm, as few, including her husband Hans, openly support the cause, although they privately agree.

Feeling discouraged by the lack of public backing, Nora is inspired by Graziella’s suggestion that the village women go on strike, leading them to establish camp in Graziella’s restaurant and leaving their men to manage on their own. Tensions rise as Hans navigates the challenges of caring for their children and his father, while being approached by men demanding he persuade Nora to end the strike. Instead, Hans stands firm, insisting that the men resolve their issues with their wives directly. Tensions boil over when several men violently force their wives out of the restaurant, leading to a tragic moment when Vroni, in a fit of rage, suffers a fatal heart attack.

In the aftermath of Vroni’s death, the women retreat to their homes, save for Theresa, who chooses to divorce her husband and live with a cousin. The atmosphere remains strained between Nora and Hans, yet Nora attends Vroni’s funeral with her family, where she openly challenges the priest’s assertion of Vroni’s modest contentment, leading to a reconciliation with Hans.

As the referendum to grant women the right to vote approaches, hope reignites when women across the village, including Nora, cast their votes, resulting in a narrow victory for women’s suffrage even in their community. Theresa is able to rescue Hanna, who forgives her mother but decides to pursue a life with her boyfriend. The narrative culminates as Nora’s children learn independence, and both Nora and Hans embark on their own sexual awakening, finally discovering how to satisfy each other in a way they never thought possible.