Papas neue Freundin (1960)

Franz Bach, a group designer at the state-owned VEB Elektronik factory, receives an award for his latest invention. In high spirits, he romps around the apartment with his children: ten-year-old Täve, his 14-year-old daughter Sabine, and 19-year-old Klaus. But the arrival of his wife Margarete dampens the fun. She breaks up their game, notices a stain on Franz’s trousers, and is most interested in the bonus Franz is due to receive for his invention. She always has Franz’s back and takes care of the household and all the problems that come with it, but denies herself any comforts and seems worn down. Franz, in turn, sees her as a spoilsport and goes to work in a bad mood. There, his colleagues congratulate him, and his friend Heinrich Wolle is the last to usher the young Irene Sauer into the room. On behalf of the trainees, she presents Franz with a bouquet of flowers. Franz is taken with the young, beautiful woman, brings her into his work group as an assistant designer, and spontaneously becomes her mentor. He insists that she be available to work with him around the clock. When he gets home and immediately quarrels again with the ever-worried Margarete, who seems uninterested in his work, he leaves again. Late that night, he rings Irene’s doorbell. They first work together in a dance bar, then drink wine and dance together. Over the next few days, Franz spends his nights not only with Irene but also at home, sleeping on the living-room sofa. Täve, Sabine, and Klaus suspect that their father has a new girlfriend, especially since Sabine has caught him flirting with other women on holiday before. Täve organizes a stakeout of Franz with his friend Atze. Before long, they see him with Irene. They now plan to break the two of them up while also saving Franz and Margarete’s marriage. Under Sabine’s direction, Margarete gets a “modern makeover.” Her prim updo gives way to a fashionable short haircut. Margarete also resumes French classes at the adult education center, since she once wanted to become an interpreter. When Franz plans a weekend trip with Irene, Täve lays traps studded with nails, puncturing Franz’s car tires. Klaus goes to pick up the waiting Irene, pretending to be Günther, Franz’s deputy. After some initial difficulties, Irene and Klaus really do become a couple. At the same time, Irene distances herself from Franz, who reacts irritably and eventually realizes that his own son has stolen his girlfriend away from him. This leads to a major family row, especially since Franz is also jealous of Margarete, who promptly enrolls in a class at the adult education center with his colleague Wolle. Klaus and Franz have a heated talk, and Klaus makes it clear to his father that nobody wants a ridiculous head of the family. He also asks him to pay more attention to his wife. Franz and Margarete reconcile, particularly after Margarete realizes that, with his affair, Franz had also been trying to forget his first gray hairs. Irene is initially furious when her Günther turns out to be Franz’s son Klaus, but they, too, reconcile. In the end, at Franz and Margarete’s 20th wedding anniversary, Irene and Klaus even get engaged.