Früher oder später (2007)

Nora is 14 and just entering puberty. At a party with her parents’ friends, she keeps to herself until the attractive actor Thomas unexpectedly turns up. Nora’s parents, Uwe and Anette, greet him reservedly; Nora gets him to dance with her, which displeases her father, Uwe. Thomas has moved in right next door to Nora’s family. Nora now visits him more and more often, starts wearing makeup, and puts her hair up. The tensions between her parents also lead Nora to escape into thoughts of Thomas: Anette is currently pursuing a second degree, while Uwe’s dream of successfully selling custom-made kitchens seems to be slowly falling apart. Nora often watches Thomas from her room. Thomas’s wife, Ellen, offers Nora the chance to look after their young son from time to time. Nora hesitantly agrees and uses the time alone in Thomas’s house to search through his things. At the end, she lies on the marital bed wearing one of his shirts and takes the shirt with her when Thomas unexpectedly comes home early. She looks at photos with him; they both drink alcohol and eventually make a toast to their friendship. When she confesses that she wishes she were prettier, he compliments her. Later, at home, Nora uses the stolen shirt to set up a “Thomas shrine” in her closet. Uwe, who has noticed Nora’s infatuation with Thomas, warns his daughter that there are people who prey on girls. Nevertheless, one day Nora agrees to go to the lake with Thomas and his son. There, Thomas takes pictures of Nora in her bikini. When he touches her, she flees into the water. Thomas plays down what happened. Shortly afterward, Thomas’s wife Ellen invites Uwe, Anette, her sister Isa, and Nora to a welcome dinner. The atmosphere is tense, and Uwe and Thomas in particular cannot stand each other. Nora pretends she needs to use the bathroom, but instead goes into Thomas’s bedroom. There she finds photos in a box showing Thomas and Anette together. Ellen discovers Nora in the bedroom shortly afterward and throws her out. After Uwe and Thomas have a loud argument at the dinner table, the two families part ways soon afterward. Late that evening, Uwe goes back to Thomas and demands that he keep his hands off Nora, but Thomas mocks him for his sick imagination. Meanwhile, Anette has started an affair with her fellow student Daniel, but breaks it off when he becomes too demanding and even wants to go on vacation with her. Uwe’s career is in ruins because his business partner has sold their kitchen company behind his back. He steals the contract, money, and a gun from the business, and Nora watches him hide the weapon at home. Nora visits Thomas, who admits, in response to her question, that he was once involved with her mother. When she asks what that means for the two of them, he gives no answer, and Nora runs off. That evening, her parents host a party for friends. Uwe’s business partner shows up and persuades him to return the contract documents. The drunken Thomas also makes a surprise appearance. When Uwe tells him to leave, Thomas responds mockingly, and the two men begin fighting. Nora suddenly stands in front of them with the loaded gun and shoots Thomas. She then runs off and throws herself into a pond. Uwe and Anette search for her in vain until morning. Nora spends the night on the beach. The next morning, she returns home. Her parents are sitting in the garden, sunk in grief, and do not notice her as she steps onto the terrace.