Der Direktor (1980)

Joachim Faber lives with his 18-year-old daughter after his wife died five years ago. As the newly appointed principal of a polytechnic secondary school in Potsdam, he is under considerable pressure. In addition to staff absences and unfinished repairs, he is also burdened by demands from the school authorities for his students to get better grades. Then a dispute between a tenth-grade class and the construction workers in its partner brigade, as part of the subject “PA” (Productive Work), causes particular trouble. After the conflict escalates because of mutual written accusations, the principal has to report to the school inspector. Eventually, the students and workers also want, with his help, to meet and discuss the matter in order to resolve the problem by mutual agreement. Around this time, he meets Bettina Bräuer in traffic; she heads a government agency. After two more chance encounters, Faber becomes increasingly interested in her and tries to get closer to her. The activities they eventually share—a visit to a fairground and an intimate evening at Faber’s home—go harmoniously. And yet Bettina Bräuer is repeatedly very reluctant to consider a future together. Only hesitantly does she explain why she rejects a committed relationship: she has an eight-year-old deaf-mute son, who will always remain the most important person in her life. Because of this, her relationships with men have always ended badly in the past. A few days later, Faber seeks out the mother and son. The boy then reaches out his hand to him, which can be taken as their consent to the relationship (happy ending).