Mit fünfzig küssen Männer anders (1999)

Marie Mechlenburg, who once gave up her art studies for her husband and their children, wants to finally pursue her own ambitions. The children are grown up, and her husband Dietrich, a business consultant, barely has any time for her. Marie eventually starts painting again and hopes to exhibit her work. However, the gallery owner Dorit Martens turns her down. Marie’s friend Anna and the sculptor Gerd encourage her to stick to her plans and find a lover to bring some new energy into her life. Marie eventually meets Eugen, an ear, nose and throat doctor and art collector, who promptly invites her to dinner. First, however, Marie and Dietrich are invited to a barbecue party for Anna’s birthday. Anna’s husband, Udo, is Dietrich’s colleague. When it comes time to fire up the grill, the men get into an argument, as usual. Shortly afterward, Marie goes out to dinner with Eugen. He hopes to spend a weekend together with her in the Alps. Marie, however, wants to focus on painting again first. She rents an old storehouse and converts it into a studio. While Dietrich, Udo and other colleagues take part in an outdoor training exercise, Marie goes to the Alps with Eugen. She is not opposed to having an affair. But when Eugen urges her to shower after a hike because otherwise he won’t find her attractive, Marie loses interest. The next morning, she leaves the hotel without him. At a bar, Marie runs into Kevin, a younger art enthusiast whom Gerd had already introduced to her. She feels strongly attracted to him, especially as she and Dietrich are growing increasingly distant. Believing that Dietrich thinks nothing of her paintings, one evening she goes out into the garden and burns the works she has painted. Kevin appears and talks with her. They grow closer and eventually sleep together. Meanwhile, Dietrich finds a video Eugen had sent Marie to invite her to the Alps. After confronting Marie about her adultery, and after Gerd criticizes her too, Marie throws herself into her work and paints new pictures. Through Kevin, she meets the gallery owner Dorit Martens again, and Dorit then decides to exhibit Marie’s work. Kevin is still interested in Marie, but she advises him to go back to his actual girlfriend. Dietrich also attends Marie’s first exhibition opening. He shows that he is proud of his wife and has her show him the paintings. As they do so, they take each other’s hands.