Göttliche Funken (2014)

Matthias wants to marry the love of his life, Diana. All their friends help make the day truly festive. When an accident prevents the priest from coming, Pastor Lily appears as a substitute. Matthias can hardly believe his eyes: standing before him is his childhood sweetheart, Lily, whom he has not seen in 25 years. During the wedding celebration, their eyes keep meeting. Lily is glad to see Matthias so happy and invites him and his wife to dinner at her home. She is married to Jan, who was also in their class back then. The four of them spend a cheerful evening together, reminiscing. In the process, Diana learns that Matthias used to be in love with Lily. While Diana is away working as a flight attendant, Matthias stays home to oversee the conversion of an old mill into a comfortable home. He also works there as a stonemason in a small workshop, making pieces for the nearby Walhalla. Matthias, Diana, Lily, and Jan go together to a class reunion. They drink a lot of alcohol. Matthias gets into a fight with a former classmate, and Jan falls off a barstool while drunk and has to be treated by an emergency doctor. As a result, they switch room assignments, and Matthias has to stay with Jan, while Lily shares a room with Diana. Diana is disappointed that Matthias did not proudly introduce her as his wife and was rather distracted all evening. Matthias and Lily try to suppress their old feelings. They keep meeting, spending time together, and kissing—at first only goodbye, but later more passionately. It seems only a matter of time before they sleep together. Diana is often away, and Lily’s marriage is in crisis. Both hesitate because they are aware of their responsibility toward their spouses, but they cannot stop themselves. Feeling guilty, they both talk to their partners. Jan is disappointed by Lily’s infidelity but wants to forgive her. Diana, on the other hand, packs her things and intends to leave Matthias. By chance, she meets Jan while taking a walk along the banks of the Danube. In a similar situation, they comfort one another and travel together to the mountains to work through their disappointments. The trip was supposed to be Diana’s honeymoon, but she now takes it with Jan. The longer they are together, the more they feel that they like each other very much. Matthias and Lily are beside themselves with worry because they have heard nothing from Jan and Diana. Matthias and Lily then drive to the mountain lodge that had been booked for the honeymoon. There, all four meet up and accuse one another. But they also find a chance to talk about their feelings. Matthias explains to Diana that he spent all those years trying to forget Lily, and only managed to do so when she came into his life. He assures Diana that he loves her. He sees Lily’s return at their wedding, of all times, as a test of their love for each other. Lily, too, increasingly realizes that it is Jan she really loves. Since the affair has not gone unnoticed in her parish, she wants to resign as a pastor, but her congregation is determined to keep her. After all, she is only human too, tested by God just as they all are. Jan also manages to forgive her, and the four remain friends despite their brief partner swap.