There is a daily food ration of one potato per person. Griffith specifically states that Paul was drafted as a schoolboy into a war that he had nothing to do with making. Before they resolve to marry, the two lovers go through a major crisis, as Paul becomes very ill as a result of the poison gas exposure he suffered in the war. Paul almost dies, but with patient nurturing from Inga pulls through. The performances by Mr. Hamilton and Miss Dempster in this part of the film are especially poignant and moving.
Love has meaning beyond starvation.
Once this crisis is over, Paul procures back breaking employment. He is determined to build a house and grow enough potatoes so that he and Inga can marry. An especially moving scene that illustrates this is during the wait that Inga experiences in a crowded food line. She rounds up all of the money she can from every family member, in hope of being able to purchase the rare commodity of meat. The movie progresses to show how decent people, in desperation, resorted to stealing and robbing to get a simple commodity, like a handful of potatoes.