Dinner for Two (2003)

When Leopold and Stefanie Wörmann eat the same dish at an upscale restaurant, Leopold (also known as Poldi) suffers an attack. The doctor then finds that only Leopold has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and prescribes him a strict diet. Stefanie’s readings, by contrast, are normal. Leopold, the head of a freight forwarding company, invites a group of Japanese businesspeople to his home in an effort to keep their business, but it does not work out. At the Wörmanns’ home, Stefanie and her best friend Sophie Kurz prepare a feast of Austrian dishes, which delights the Japanese guests. Stefanie also creates the Fudschijama. But Sophie serves Leopold tofu instead of schnitzel, prompting the Japanese guests to make fun of the expression “Herzerl Bum Bum.” Afterwards, Leopold goes to a nearby sausage stand and secretly eats Käsekrainer sausages. Sophie Kurz is having family problems. Her husband, Peter, has left the family suddenly, for reasons that are still unknown. He has also withdrawn all the money from the family’s bank account. Their daughter Tessa is about to take her school-leaving exams and asks for money. Sophie tearfully laments her situation to Stefanie. Stefanie lends Sophie €3,000, which upsets Leopold. Stefanie and Sophie then decide to form a cooking duo called “Dinner for Two – Luxury at Home,” charging €200 to cook for two people and earn money, with payment to be made in cash—a plan Leopold is not exactly happy with either. Their first job is at the home of Professor Aichholzer, who behaves in an overbearing manner, and it proves difficult. She rejects Stefanie and Sophie’s ingredients because she had reserved her own, and she has also invited eight people from high society to her feast. Reluctantly, Stefanie and Sophie use Professor Aichholzer’s supplies. Professor Aichholzer then criticizes their dishes mercilessly. There are problems with the champagne, too. When it is time to settle the bill, Professor Aichholzer asks for a bank deposit slip. Stefanie and Sophie decide not to take any money from her. One rainy night, Leopold goes for a drive and, through a mishap, splashes a young woman standing by the roadside. He invites her to dinner and begins a romantic relationship with her. He also gives her a large bouquet of roses. Later, Leopold is dissatisfied with a meal at the young woman’s apartment, which consists of sushi. She is also no good at cooking his favorite dishes. Tessa keeps receiving anonymous phone calls. She also stays out until late at night on the pretext that she is studying with her classmates. Conversations between Sophie and Tessa are strained. Tessa is also expelled from school for being absent too long. Stefanie and Sophie’s next cooking job is for George Haider, a gay man who is very conscious of his appearance. He appears before Stefanie and Sophie wearing women’s clothes. When his partner does not show up, he generously invites Stefanie and Sophie to eat with him. George then gives the two women advice on beauty care and cosmetics, and shows them his sample box. Stefanie and Sophie use the beauty products and, once again, do not take any money. George’s partner eventually arrives late, but George turns him away. Some time later, Stefanie and Sophie cook for a young man, Mr. Seiler, who has invited a young woman to dinner. The woman turns out to be Sophie’s daughter, Tessa. When Stefanie happens to serve them, she confronts Tessa. It emerges that Mr. Seiler lent Tessa money because she was in debt to some Russians and had been left with the bill. Stefanie keeps this from Sophie and tells Tessa to leave Mr. Seiler’s apartment. Stefanie also gives Mr. Seiler back the money she earned, to cover Tessa’s debts. Stefanie and Sophie are then hired by the young woman Leopold met. They have to work out of sight and prepare a large, multi-course menu. The young woman herself collects the courses. Stefanie and Sophie have no idea that they are cooking Leopold’s favorite dishes for him. When Sophie happens to glance into the dining room, she sees Leopold collapsing at the young woman’s apartment. Sophie then orders Leopold out. This time, however, Stefanie and Sophie earn €700. At home, Stefanie finds Leopold exhausted. He admits that he has been eating a lot of meat lately and decides to become a vegetarian. Finally, Stefanie and Sophie work for the elderly Merlet couple, both of whom have cancer. Dr. Merlet welcomes the women and decides to drink an old bottle of sparkling wine from a previous decade. He pays them right away. Dr. Merlet and his paralyzed wife have no appetite and leave the entire menu untouched, as they are no longer accustomed to having dinner. Nevertheless, the Merlets thank them for the feast, and Dr. Merlet gives Stefanie and Sophie some jewels as they leave, telling them to open them only the next day. At breakfast together, they find a pearl necklace in the jewelry box. Sophie, meanwhile, has received a sapphire brooch. Stefanie and Sophie return to the Merlets’ apartment, where they find a large contingent of police and funeral staff: the Merlets have died by suicide with a pistol. Sophie decides to give up cooking, and Tessa finds a letter from her dad in Australia, along with a plane ticket. It turns out that he bought a farm in Australia because he had always wanted to live far away, in the countryside. After initially resisting, Sophie finally agrees to emigrate to Australia with Tessa. The film ends with Leopold and Stefanie visiting a market in Vienna.