Nie zu spät (2021)

Paul Langner is a successful airline pilot. He is married for the third time and has one child from each of his previous marriages, to Karin and Martina. Five years ago, Paul promised his then-pregnant wife Susanne that he would take early retirement at 59, so she could return to her career and he could look after their child, Franz. But now that new opportunities have opened up at work and he can be promoted to captain of a jumbo jet, he no longer wants to remember their agreement. The next morning, hurt, Susanne is gone; all he finds is a letter. She gives Paul one last chance: he has a week to prove himself a good father to Franz. To his surprise, his two other children, Jonas and Tabea, also suddenly turn up at his door, so now he has to look after all three. Easier said than done. Paul doesn’t have a driver’s license and has always relied on Susanne to drive him around. He has also always left raising the children to his wives, so he barely knows anything about them. Jonas is a vulnerable student, shy and afraid of flying, who has just been in a clinic after suffering a nervous breakdown. Tabea is about to graduate from high school but would rather train as a mechanic. When emotionally overwhelmed, she cuts herself. Video calls with his ex-wives are more accusatory than helpful, so Paul has to face all these new challenges on his own. He learns about his son’s heartbreak, his daughter’s unconventional career choice, and his children’s preferences. When Paul is asked to make sure Tabea gets safely back to her mother, Martina, he sets off on a winter road trip in an old camper van with all three children. The trip is tense at first, but also brings some lighter moments. Spending time together gives Paul new insights; he brings things up and finally listens to his children. He also learns from them how to drive the camper van. When they finally arrive at Martina’s, he at last manages to tell his children that he loves them. Susanne is waiting for him at the destination, too. They embrace.