Der Baulöwe (1980)

Ralf Keul is a well-known entertainer in theater and television. While staying with his wife Doris and their grown-up daughters Ingrid and Kirsten at his in-laws’ place on the Baltic Sea, he learns from the mayor that the lease on a plot of land his in-laws rented from the municipality when Doris was born is to be terminated unless the site is built on within a year. After winning 35,000 marks in the lottery, the Keuls decide to build a summer house on the plot. Since Ralf refuses a prefabricated house, the architect Paul designs a custom-built home for him. Before and during construction, the project is plagued by a host of mishaps. When Ralf discovers that the bricklayers are stealing building materials from other sites, he fires them. As they try to load the Wartburg with sacks of cement, it breaks down, so Ralf has to buy a replacement from the shady car dealer Kurt: a decrepit, vastly overpriced used Opel Rekord P2. The roofers, whom Ralf foolishly paid before they had finished their work, never come back, leaving a hole in the roof. Because of the stress of the construction and a car breakdown, Ralf once fails to show up at all for his performance in Berlin, and another time arrives considerably late, so his engagement is terminated. The many unforeseen incidents soon eat up most of the lottery winnings, forcing the Keuls to take out a bank loan, which entails a drawn-out paper war with the bank and the authorities. Ralf also secretly sells two pieces from his beloved coin collection to the architect Paul. The young Miss Müller, who promises to get Ralf some tiles, arranges to meet him at the nudist beach, something he is actually averse to. A beachgoer photographs the two, assuming the woman is Keul’s wife. When Doris later finds the photo among Ralf’s fan mail, she immediately files for divorce. However, when Ralf describes his predicament before the divorce court, the judges show full understanding. An inexperienced builder, they say, is exposed to greater danger and strain than a test pilot, insofar as the test pilot knows what he is flying. The divorce petition is dismissed. Despite all the setbacks, the house is finally finished. Ralf and Doris have breakfast on the terrace. Their initial peace is interrupted by the arrival of more and more guests: first the two daughters with their partners and Ingrid’s daughter, who has since been born; then the architect Paul with his family; and finally the theater manager and the stage director, also with their families. The stage director, with whom Ralf has fallen out, makes peace with him and offers him a part in a new play. Ralf discovers a pair of earmuffs that give him the peace and quiet he has been longing for, and begins learning his new role.