Die Frau von früher (2013)

Frank, Claudia, and their 16-year-old son Alex are sitting among packed suitcases. The next day, they are moving to Toronto. Alex, in particular, is struggling with the move, since he has to leave his first great love, Nora, behind in Germany. In anger, he sprays the date on the hallway wall and goes to Nora’s the night before they leave to spend his last few hours with her. Claudia has prepared a surprise for Frank: she has invited all the family’s friends to a farewell dinner and hired a catering company. When the doorbell rings, Claudia is in the shower, so Frank answers the door. Romy is standing outside—Frank’s first great love, from 24 years ago. They were 19 and 17 at the time, and Frank had sworn eternal love to Romy. Romy pretends that she has just happened to run into Frank again, though she is actually interested in the apartment. But the viewings are not scheduled to begin until the next day. Claudia has overheard Frank and Romy talking, but Frank denies that he spoke to anyone. Claudia sees Romy at the door and initially mistakes her for someone from the catering company. When she learns who Romy really is, she invites her in. The situation is awkward for Frank, especially since Romy recounts things from their past that Frank never did for Claudia during their 19-year marriage—for instance, he used to sing for Romy. Claudia grows increasingly jealous, and when Romy makes it clear that she still believes in Frank’s old vow and thinks his marriage is over, Claudia throws her out. Faced with the mess she has caused, Claudia has to admit that she had planned a farewell party for Frank, and he is not pleased. The two of them argue, when suddenly Alex kicks the apartment door open. He is carrying Romy, whom he hit with his motorcycle in the street. He thinks she is dead, but Frank realizes she has only fainted. She is bleeding from the back of her head, and despite Claudia’s objections, he bandages her head and takes her to Alex’s room. With Romy lying on his bed, Alex cannot spend the night in his own bed with Nora as planned. The two sneak into Nora’s house, but Nora’s father throws Alex out. Alex eventually heads home during the night, while Nora waits for him in a bar across the street. Alex is drunk when he gets back to the apartment. In the meantime, Romy has come to and asks Alex about Nora. She wants to know why he swore he would always love her as he said goodbye. Alex, angry because he missed his night of love with Nora, eventually attacks Romy and rapes her. Claudia later finds Romy in the shower. Romy makes it clear that Frank is going to leave Claudia. Frank and Claudia do indeed argue, believing they are alone the next morning. When Romy returns from the bakery with rolls, Claudia angrily leaves the apartment, announcing that she will leave Frank if Romy is still there when she gets back in 20 minutes. Frank considers running away with Romy. But when he can no longer remember what she gave him 24 years ago, she realizes that he really had forgotten her. She leaves. Nora shows up shortly afterward to give Frank the apartment key. She wants to talk to Alex, but he does not seem to be in the apartment. Claudia comes home, but she and Frank argue again because of her jealousy. She goes into the bathroom alone, where she finds an earring belonging to Alex, smeared with blood. Meanwhile, Frank has made a terrible discovery: Alex is lying dead in his room. Romy had beaten him to death with a stone during the rape. In despair, Frank throws himself out of the window and dies. Claudia grieves, stunned, for her husband and son. A few days later, Romy appears in elegant clothes to view the newly refurbished apartment. The estate agent admits that the date on the hallway wall has been painted over several times, but is still partly visible. Romy replies that she likes it.