Terra nova

Summary

Social drama about the drainage of the Zuiderzee and its consequences for the local fishing industry.

The fishermen of the village of Volendam are up in arms against the closing of the Zuiderzee that is depriving them of their livelihoods. Headed by an old and staunchly religious fisherman, they sail for the Afsluitdijk ('enclosure dam') but are forced to turn back after running into some sandbanks. The old fisherman refuses to give up and sails again, this time in the company of his young wife whom he wants to punish for her adultery. The fisherman's helper sees what's going on and hides on the ship. When the old man is in the process of pushing his wife overboard as a sacrifice to God, he jumps out and saves her. The fisherman is later found dead in the cabin of the ship with a bible in his lap opened at the page which reads 'Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord'.