Three Faces West 1940

Refugees arrive in the United States

The Brauns, an elderly doctor and his daughter, flee Nazi-controlled Austria and arrive in the United States seeking safety. They resolve to build new lives here, with the doctor continuing to practice medicine and his daughter training as a nurse. This moment marks the start of their long, hopeful journey in exile.

Establishing care in a North Dakota town

The pair settle in a small North Dakota farm town, where the doctor becomes the community's physician and his daughter serves as a nurse. They quickly prove indispensable as they treat the sick and tend to wounded farmers during troubled times. The town begins to rely on their skills amid isolation and hardship.

Dust Bowl and drought intensify

A relentless drought and dust storms sweep the region, threatening the farmers' livelihoods. The doctor and nurse witness escalating suffering, while community members strive to maintain their farms. The harsh weather conditions become a central driver of the town's fate.

Community considers new farming methods

The farmers and townspeople discuss adopting new farming methods to save their crops. The doctor and nurse support innovations that could reduce soil erosion and improve yields. They hope science and practical farming can avert further disaster.

USDA persuasion to relocate

The Department of Agriculture intervenes, persuading the town that moving en masse to a new site in Oregon is the best option amid ongoing dust storms. Fear and hope mix as residents weigh losing their homes against a better future. The decision sets the stage for a long, arduous trek.

Dam plan enables a new community

A plan for a new dam in Oregon promises a water supply to sustain a fresh farming community. The idea gives the move a concrete goal and a sense of purpose. Leaders and residents begin to organize the large migration with that infrastructure in mind.

Caravan to Oregon

In a modern echo of an old wagon train, the town moves as a convoy of cars toward Oregon, led by John Phillips. Differences of opinion and friction among followers surface during the journey. The group endures long drives, sharing resources and resolving conflicts along the way.

Detour to San Francisco

The doctor and his daughter take a detour to San Francisco after learning the daughter's fiancé is alive in America. They hope to understand this unexpected development and perhaps reconnect under new circumstances. The stop introduces emotional stakes and shifts in their migration plan.

Fiancé's Nazism revealed

In San Francisco, they discover that the fiancé has embraced Nazism and now opposes their values. This shocking development makes marriage impossible and forces the family to reassess their future. The revelation clashes with the couple's hopes and their moral choices.

Return to the Oregon transplant

The doctor and daughter eventually rejoin the transplanted town in Oregon, continuing their mission amid upheaval. They re-enter the community with renewed purpose and commitment to the new settlement. The journey demonstrates resilience and adaptation in the face of disruption.

Daughter marries John Phillips

The daughter marries John Phillips, the town leader, cementing ties between the newcomers and the local community. The ceremony marks a new, cooperative future for the town and its inhabitants. It symbolizes reconciliation between the transplanted families and the existing residents.