Praxis Dr. Hasenbein (1997)

The film is set on a small street in the town of Karges Loch. Dr. Angelika Hasenbein practices there, prescribing ointments and offering radiation treatments. The film shows everyday life in a small neighborhood. The doctor has to contend with the cheeky children from the orphanage run by Aunt Uschi. They tease his son Peterchen and trick the doctor with an empty box that supposedly contains a hamster. Mrs. Holzkiste applies for a job as a medical assistant, but fails to meet the strict requirements (making soup). One event is the cinema premiere of the art film “Ruck, Ruck – Taubenmensch” by the “great Tortellini.” The doctor likes to cross the street to a small, cozy cigar shop, chat with the shopkeeper, and buy a “surprise bag for the gentleman.” In the evenings, he watches cooking shows for singles on TV with his employee, or plays “Fitze Fitze Fatze” on the accordion. But when he’s had enough of everything, he goes “to jazz” and plays saxophone in a small jazz band. All in all, life is quite peaceful. But just as a celebration is underway at the orphanage, war breaks into this little, idyllic world, and the doctor has to go to the front. For many years, he remains holed up in a submarine, waiting for the war to end. When he finally returns home, a lot has changed on his street. The people have become unfriendly and arrogant, and a gambling arcade now dominates the scene where the cozy cigar shop used to be. His son has married Annegreth, who grew up in the former orphanage, but she does not want her suddenly returned father-in-law living in the house. So the doctor moves into a retirement home, where he can enjoy jazz sessions with the other seniors.