Bankgeheimnisse (1986)

Horst Valfelt has been the deputy manager of a prestigious and well-regarded bank branch in West Berlin for several years. One day, however, he is passed over for the promotion to branch manager he has long hoped for. Instead, a woman is put in charge of the branch, which initially comes as a major blow to Horst’s career. One day, his former college classmate Thomas Berthold turns up at the bank. Thomas wants to go into business for himself and asks for a loan. Horst grandly offers him a loan on apparently very favorable terms. At first, Thomas’s business does very well. He also begins meeting Horst socially, though not solely for business reasons: Horst has had his eye on Ulrike, Thomas’s wife, for quite some time. After a while, however, Thomas’s professional fortunes take a turn for the worse, as his heat-pump company runs into the red. Horst, meanwhile, is torn over what to do, since he now has the upper hand. He tries to protect Thomas and his company for as long as possible, but is ultimately unable to prevent bankruptcy proceedings. Their friendship seems to be over for good, since Horst has always been loyal to his employer and will continue to be so.