Ein Mann im schönsten Alter (1964)

Richard Mertens has, in a sense, achieved everything in life. He is a successful editor-in-chief of a glossy magazine, with an extremely elegant and attractive wife, Lucy, by his side. And yet he wonders whether this is all there is. His life, shaped by prosperity, social standing, and respectability, seems infinitely empty to him. He has long since grown apart from his wife, whose feelings for him seem to have cooled just as much as his have for her. They are polite but distant with each other; appearances have long taken precedence over intimacy. Maintaining the façade means a great deal to her. To give his life a new thrill, Mertens has taken up with Eva, a pretty young woman. She works at the magazine and seems to promise him everything he so sorely misses in his marriage, which is mired in everyday routine. But even with his mistress, Mertens remains trapped in conventions and entrenched habits; he is not truly capable of sincere feelings. Instead, he tries to reinforce his status as a successful man—and impress and keep Eva, his subordinate—by achieving even more, working even harder, and making even more money. Another source of conflict arises from his falling-out with his old childhood friend, Ferrow. The two end up in court, and Mertens wins thanks to Eva’s perjury. Mertens’s conduct there proves symptomatic of his entire personality. As a result, his love for his girlfriend finally falls apart, and the relationship is over for good. In the end, Mertens finds comfort only with Brigitte, the barmaid who listens to him patiently.