Das Gesellenstück (1986)

Confectioner Otto Kimmel is now retired and lives in a house with three generations of his family. To his delight, his grandson Peter is also learning the confectionery trade, so Otto can pass on plenty of good advice as his grandpa. His son Horst, unfortunately, did not follow the family tradition and became an architect—a fact Otto still resents a little. As a result, he gives his grandson noticeably more attention and supports him whenever he can. He even buys him a moped, which Peter has wanted for a long time. But Peter is only to get it after he passes his journeyman’s examination. Unexpectedly, Otto’s son has also had a change of heart and decided to buy his son the moped he wants. When Horst sees the moped from his father, he gets angry and reproaches him for interfering in his parenting yet again. Otto retorts, claiming that he bought the vehicle for himself and Martha. Peter would like to throw a party and asks his grandpa if they can hold it at his place. He also wants to introduce his girlfriend Helga and tell his grandpa that she is pregnant. Otto now wonders how to break the news to his son and wife. Horst comes home very early that evening, bringing the party to an early end. He takes Helga to be a much too young girlfriend of his father’s and demands an explanation. During their talk, the truth comes out, and Horst learns that he is going to be a grandfather. When Peter and Helga join them, the whole family has to come to terms with the situation ahead. Horst now realizes—as a grandfather-to-be—that he is beginning to see things differently, and notices that he is developing exactly the same way of thinking as his father.