Mutter reicht's jetzt (2016)

Barbara Weller is a dutiful, accommodating housewife who not only helps out at her husband’s small auto repair shop, but is also a fallback for her children whenever they need someone to look after the grandchildren or lend them a little money. For her 35th wedding anniversary, she has just one wish: to finally take a trip to the sunny lavender fields of Provence. But her husband, Karl, has no interest in that. Instead, he gives his wife a state-of-the-art barbecue grill, since he’ll get something out of it too. The next day, Barbara finds a French course registration form that someone has left behind in a café. She only means to return it to its original owner, but when she takes it to the adult education center, she unexpectedly becomes a member of the class: without her, they would not meet the minimum enrollment, and, just as at home, she finds herself unable to say no. Alexander, the course instructor, teaches Barbara and her classmates Richard, Miriam, Mehmet, and Simon French in an unconventional way. He teaches them not only vocabulary, but above all how to stand up for themselves in French. He holds his lessons wherever he can give his students practical instruction. For instance, they meet in a restaurant and are allowed to speak only French; they visit a French market, learn to swear in French, and cook and bake together. Barbara realizes that the other students are also struggling with problems, and that each of them has a different reason for learning French. The course opens up the possibility of new friendships for all of them, and they become a real team. Barbara sneaks off to the daily meetings, always having to come up with new excuses, so her husband gradually grows suspicious. She also begins to neglect some of her usual “duties.” She even gives herself permission to think only of herself sometimes, something her family cannot understand at all. Her growing confidence confuses her and drives Karl Weller to spy on his wife and forcibly drag her out of the French group. At first, Barbara is angry about this and thinks she should go back to being the dutiful housewife and wife she once was. But then a “call for help” suddenly comes from the adult education center. Her instructor is supposedly a fraud with no teaching qualifications at all, and the entire course is in danger of falling apart. To prevent this, the students are supposed to prove that they have learned something from Alexander. Barbara is torn, because her family is currently making every effort to show their appreciation for her and her work. They have all gathered to honor her and belatedly celebrate their wedding anniversary. But when all her classmates stand together in front of her, she cannot help but assist them and Alexander. Whatever the outcome of their exam, they have all learned a great deal—not just French, but a great deal about life. They each go their own way, and all look to the future with hope—including Alexander. Barbara has booked her trip to France and is on her way to the airport when her family raises the alarm. They all set out together to bring her back, and she is almost inclined not to let her family down after all. At the last moment, her newly won confidence returns, and she stands her ground and takes her dream trip to the lavender fields of Provence.