Eine Liebe später (2021)

Julika Fricke’s husband, Michael, died in a bicycle accident two years ago. Since then, the physiotherapist has lived alone with her two children, son Max and daughter Leni, right next door to her in-laws, in the house she and her husband had built together a few years earlier. The children miss their father, and Max has been unable to ride a bicycle ever since. In lonely moments, Julika calls her husband’s cell phone and leaves messages on his voicemail. Her in-laws, Georg and Christa, rarely give Julika any time to herself; they often turn up at her house without warning. One day, during a ticket inspection on the tram, Julika slips her ticket to a man when she realizes he cannot show one. Konstantin runs after her, and they exchange numbers. In return, he would like to treat her to 20 coffees. After a phone call, Julika agrees to a date, though she has some doubts and nearly leaves the meeting place again. But when Konstantin arrives, his charming manner makes it a lovely evening. He is actually a teacher, but earns his living as a bicycle tour guide in the city, which better suits his anti-capitalist principles. He shares a flat with a female friend and spends part of each year in India. He eventually drives Julika home and stays the night. When her father-in-law, Georg, suddenly comes face-to-face with a half-naked Konstantin the next morning, he is very displeased that men have started visiting his son’s house. Julika continues seeing Konstantin, who makes sure she gets the promised coffee each time. Her in-laws have a hard time accepting Konstantin, especially since he now moves in with Julika for a few days after his female flatmate, who suddenly confessed that she was in love with him, throws him out. Georg repeatedly spies on the two of them and presumes to dictate how Julika should live her private life. Eventually, he even raises her rent. Daughter Leni sees Julika’s new man as a troublemaker and suspects he is trying to ingratiate himself with her. When she has had enough, she promptly moves into her grandparents’ house. Konstantin, however, builds a good connection with Max; with his sensitive manner, he even manages to help the boy feel ready to ride a bicycle again. But because of the tension, and because Michael still seems to stand somehow between Julika and Konstantin, Konstantin feels that he does not belong there and decides to go back to India. Julika starts putting her life in order, clearing her husband’s belongings out of the house because she does not want to look after them like a museum curator. Finally, she takes the step of moving into a new apartment with her children, partly so they can live independently, without her in-laws watching over them. Georg confesses to his wife that shortly before Michael’s death, he had argued with him because Michael wanted to withdraw from their joint business. He calls his son’s cell phone and says that he loves him. Konstantin is just setting off for the airport when he sees two girls with balloons for a 20th birthday—a sign to him that he still owes Julika one last coffee. When he arrives at Julika’s house with the coffee, Leni, who has just been at her grandparents’ house, takes him to the new apartment, where Julika and Konstantin embrace. In the final scene, Julika and Konstantin are shown going on a bicycle trip together with the children and her in-laws.