Die Freundin der Tochter (2009)

Hannah and Paul appear to have a picture-perfect marriage. But Paul has fallen in love with a 24-year-old woman, with whom he is having an affair. Hannah’s daughter, 20-year-old Pia, has a good relationship with her mother. She can talk to her about anything, including the “great love” she has found in her new boyfriend, Erik. Pia tells her mother that her roommate, Charlotte, has started an affair with a married man. At first, Hannah does not realize that Charlotte and Paul are connected, since her husband is under great pressure at work and says he has to work a lot. As a result, he comes home very late. When he has to attend a conference, the couple argue because Paul does not want Hannah to go with him. Hannah realizes that Paul is cheating on her. Pia, unaware of the situation, tells her mother that Charlotte wants to learn Swedish. Hannah is not willing to give up her marriage of more than 20 years without a fight, so she signs up for the same course. As expected, she meets Charlotte, introduces herself as Laura, and befriends her. Paul is surprised that his wife now wants to learn Swedish too, and he gradually becomes nervous. Even so, he goes to the conference, leaving Hannah alone with her pain. During a phone call, Hannah finally realizes that Paul is cheating on her with Charlotte, and from then on she stops answering the phone. When Paul returns from what he claims was an exhausting business trip, Hannah does not make a scene. Instead, she plays the concerned wife and pities him. She makes it clear that, like her, he is getting old. Meanwhile, Hannah’s friendship with Charlotte grows closer. She sees the older woman as an experienced friend and confides in her. They go shopping together, and Hannah advises Charlotte on style and behavior, telling her how she can supposedly make “her” lover more attached to her. For example, Hannah gives her tickets to the opera that were originally meant for Paul. But he had canceled again, making an excuse so he could spend time with Charlotte. On their 24th wedding anniversary, Paul has another date with Charlotte. Hannah shows Charlotte how to prepare a tasty dish that Charlotte plans to use to surprise Paul. When Paul comes home late that evening, Hannah reminds him of their anniversary. She forgives him once again and leads him into the living room, where his favorite meal is also waiting on the table. Paul tries not to give anything away and eats another large portion, washing it down with plenty of alcohol, just as he had at Charlotte’s. Hannah’s strategy is slowly working. Paul realizes that he and Hannah have grown old together. He misses the intimacy of their quiet “four walls” with his wife, who is his own age. Things come to a head when Pia finds a scarf in her apartment that clearly belongs to her father. She runs off and cannot initially be reached. Hannah and Erik search desperately for her but cannot find her. They come to a small boat, hoping Pia might be there, but they cannot find her there either. They talk about getting older and realize they have a lot in common. Hannah is surprised that her daughter has met an open-minded young man who has his feet firmly on the ground. By this point, Pia has managed to reach her father. She berates him for cheating on her mother with her roommate. Paul realizes that he is on the verge of losing everyone who matters to him. He returns to the apartment he shares with Hannah and hopes she will come home. Hannah, meanwhile, finds Pia and makes it clear that she has known about the affair for a long time. She advises her daughter to talk to Charlotte and make up with her. Then she too goes home and reconciles with Paul.