Frühlingskinder (2013)

At the gas station in the small Bavarian village of “Frühling,” a free-roaming turkey causes quite a stir because it is not at all afraid of people and attacks one of the customers. The village’s young people find it amusing, as does village aid worker Katja Baumann, who happens to be there. The bird belongs to the Böhm family, who are currently caught up in preparations for their youngest daughter’s First Communion and therefore have not noticed that their unruly turkey, Karl, has escaped. When Luise Böhm, a single mother, is in an accident on her way home to her children, Katja has to step in and take care of the children and the farm until Mrs. Böhm can be discharged from the hospital. When Katja arrives at the Böhm children’s home, she meets the village priest, Hendrik Klein, who has already made himself useful. He explains to Katja that Luise Böhm has been a very active member of the community and that the villagers now want to return the favor. Katja gets to know the children. Tommy is 16 and very responsible for his age. Vivi, the eldest daughter, is affected most by their mother’s absence, while her nine-year-old sister Romy is delighted by her “ordered mommy.” Katja has no trouble settling in, as the children are cooperative. While working for the Böhms, the village aid worker discovers that Luise Böhm has been having a secret relationship with Hendrik Klein for years, something no one in the village is supposed to know. Katja decides to talk to him about it. However, to avoid compromising him, she chooses to approach him through the confessional. Klein openly admits that he is the father of all three children, but says he feels bound by his vows as a priest. Katja urges the clergyman to remember, amid the importance of being there for others through his work, to be grateful that he has been blessed with three healthy children. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, Luise Böhm dies. The news reaches the children just as they are happily celebrating Romy passing an exam. Katja immediately understands what this would mean for the children if Hendrik Klein did not acknowledge that he is their father. They would be placed under the guardianship of the youth welfare office, which would also mean having to leave their familiar surroundings and the farm. Klein is torn between his calling and his affection for his children. He does not want to abandon his parish, because this is the only way he can fulfill his responsibility to his three children. As a result, the children are to be taken away by the youth welfare office. When Klein goes to say goodbye to them, Katja is the one who gives him another urgent talking-to. He then comes to his senses and takes his children in.