Ohne Dich (2014)

Martina and Ralf are still as happy together in their relationship as they were on the first day, even after all these years. Together, they run an upscale restaurant in Cologne, which is doing well. Their vacation takes them to the French Atlantic coast, where they enjoy spending time together at a secluded retreat. As they exchange caresses on the beach in a cove, a photographer appears and takes pictures. Ralf drives him away in a manner Martina has never seen from him before. When she wakes a little later than usual the next morning, Ralf is already out on the boat, as he told her in a note he left behind. He says he is going to bring back fresh fish for lunch. When he has not returned by lunchtime or later in the day, Martina grows increasingly anxious. After she calls the police, the sailboat is found, but Ralf remains missing. The French police are convinced that the sail struck him on the head, causing him to fall into the sea. To the officers, it looks like a sailing accident. Desperate, Martina now searches for Ralf on her own, because she is convinced he is still alive. She is sure she would be able to feel it if Ralf were no longer alive. When her search proves fruitless, Martina returns to Cologne. In Ralf’s papers, she finds discrepancies as well as mysterious text messages from a certain Clara. Ralf had never mentioned that name to her. Johannes, Martina’s childhood friend, tries to support her, but she cannot shake the uncomfortable feeling that he hopes they will finally get together. So she responds very cautiously to his offers of help. Martina’s mother also comes to help her at the restaurant, as does her brother Andreas. Since Martina keeps having dreams that feel so real they seem to be true, with Ralf back by her side, she decides to follow a lead that takes her to a small village in Brittany. The mysterious Clara is said to live there. Martina does find the young woman, but Clara flees from her almost in a panic. It turns out that Clara is Ralf’s sister. She has leukemia and dies in the hospital before she can answer a few more of Martina’s questions. Clara’s husband also refuses to talk to Martina, believing that the distress his wife suffered when Martina appeared had led to her rapid death. Eventually, Ralf does reappear, but after a night of passion, he disappears again just as quickly. The same thing happens once more. This time, Martina gets important answers. Ralf admits that he faked his death because he and his sister Clara had once become involved with the Mafia, at a time before she had been part of his life. After they decided to put that chapter behind them, they were in great danger, because the Mafia lets no one escape its clutches. When the photographer appeared on the French coast—the man Ralf had driven away—Ralf knew they had found him. To protect Martina, he faked his death, since otherwise she would have been in danger too. He asks her not to follow him anymore. Once again, he has disappeared by the time Martina wakes up. Martina is drawn back to the Atlantic coast by a particular hope, and Ralf appears there again. When Martina wakes on the beach after falling asleep in Ralf’s arms, she is alone. As she looks around in panic, he emerges from the sea and waves to her. Relieved and happy, she falls into his arms and says that wherever he goes, she will go with him.