Familie mit Hindernissen (2017)

Katrin Wiedemann is divorced and lives with Philipp Esch. They both have children from previous relationships. Her son Leo lives with her, while her 14-year-old daughter Saskia lives with her father, Frank. Philipp’s teenage son, Yannik, also lives in Katrin’s blended family. Katrin’s ex-husband is married to Julia, and they are expecting their second child soon. At the weekend, everyone plans to celebrate Saskia’s confirmation together, but the preparations for the party are not exactly easy. Katrin’s parents arrive earlier than expected, and Katrin also has to look after Frank’s mother because he has to take his pregnant wife to an appointment. Despite her tight schedule, Katrin makes the sacrifice, but as a result she misses Saskia’s appointment at the alterations shop for her confirmation dress. She has no choice but to pick out a new dress at a department store, but it isn’t ideal. So Katrin lets herself get carried away and climbs through a window into the closed tailor’s shop to choose Saskia’s dress herself. She is caught, however, and only thanks to the police officer’s considerable leniency does this have no further consequences for her. Meanwhile, Katrin’s parents arrive to find themselves in the midst of a considerable mess that Yannik has made while high on cannabis. Katrin promptly persuades the troublemaker—with money—to leave at once and not come back “until it’s all over.” Philipp is therefore left with no choice but to clean up his son’s mess himself. Meanwhile, Katrin has her first argument with her mother over the confirmation gift, and there is a great deal of tension otherwise, too. Saskia’s big day itself then goes rather off the rails. First, Yannik shows up again and makes an embarrassing scene in the church. Then Saskia’s boyfriend arrives and tells her their relationship is over. In the process, however, the young woman realizes that Yannik might not be such a bad choice either. Her parents argue so much that Saskia’s completely overwhelmed mother is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. To top it all off, Philipp’s ex-wife also turns up, and Katrin’s mother gets hopelessly drunk. Katrin then wants to take her parents straight to the bus, but in her haste she runs over a bollard. She ignores a police officer’s instruction and simply drives on. When they reach the bus stop, Katrin’s mother says she doesn’t want to go back with her husband, so Katrin has to take her home with her again. When the police arrive there and take Katrin to the station, she would actually like to stay in the cell for a while. It is the only place where she has finally found some peace and quiet. The next morning, Katrin apologizes to her daughter that the party probably wasn’t what she had hoped for, but says she did her best. Saskia didn’t think it was so bad and has decided to move back in with her mother, because once the baby arrives, she’ll surely be expected to look after her two half-siblings all the time. Katrin is pleased, but at the same time has to hear from her mother that she also intends to move in with her. Exasperated, Katrin gets into the car while drunk and is taken away by the police shortly afterward. She asks them not to open the cell again before Christmas.