Reine Geschmacksache (2007)

Wolfgang Zenker (Edgar Selge) is a sales representative for women’s clothing under the “Goldberger classic” brand. Shortly before the season begins, he has bought himself a new luxury car, which he proudly drives around. At the collection presentation, he learns that a new brand called “Grazilla” is to be launched and will replace the old brand within a short time. Since the new fashion consists of cheap, poor-quality clothes, Wolfgang refuses to show them to his customers. His competitor Steven Brookmüller (Roman Knižka) from Hamburg wastes no time asking management for permission to work in Zenker’s territory himself and sell “Grazilla.” Wolfgang’s son Karsten has just graduated from high school, earns some extra money writing horoscopes, and is planning a language trip to Spain with two female friends. As his father drives the young people to the airport, the police pull him over for speeding. It turns out that he had already had to hand in his driver’s license a week earlier, but that had not stopped him from driving. The police officer puts an end to that, forcing Wolfgang to move to the passenger seat and let his son take the wheel. Wolfgang has no idea how he will make his customer visits just a few days later, until he comes up with an idea and puts it into action straight away: he forbids Karsten from going to Spain with the girls and demands that he drive him for the next few weeks. Karsten refuses, but when he discovers that his father has already taken the plane ticket from his backpack, he gives in. On their first drive, Karsten says only what is necessary to his father, and when they arrive at the first shop, he refuses to go inside. Wolfgang leaves him behind and tosses him a pair of trousers, which Karsten is supposed to take to the dry cleaner while he waits. Karsten gets into the car at first, ignoring his father’s request, but then changes his mind. At the dry cleaner’s, he meets Steven, without realizing that he is his father’s despised colleague. Steven promptly invites him for coffee and even gives him his phone number before they part. While Karsten and Steven get to know each other, Wolfgang makes one bad deal after another. Steven regularly beats him to it because he has arranged new appointments that are always a few hours before Wolfgang’s. The boutique owners are all enthusiastic about the new fashion, even though Steven also uses tricks and lies, and Wolfgang loses his temper more and more. On top of that, his financial problems are mounting: since he sells far less than planned, he sinks deep into the red, until the bank freezes his account and he has no choice but to raid the training fund set up for Karsten, which holds 17,000 euros. At first he says nothing about it to his wife, Erika (Franziska Walser), but she is far from pleased with her husband too, as they often argue and the bathroom renovation is making little progress. Erika’s divorced friend Brigitta (Traute Hoess) further turns her against her husband. When Steven visits Karsten, the two finally share their first kiss. At that very moment, his father opens the door, but does not enter the room. He tells his son that the next day they will get even with the “guy,” since he has moved his appointments forward by a few hours again—and Steven suddenly realizes who Karsten’s father is. But Zenker’s plan fails, since Steven is now forewarned. At one shop, things finally come to a head when Zenker chases a customer through the store, trying to convince her that the Grazilla top she is wearing is not right for her. Only when Karsten shouts at him does he leave the customer alone. Karsten storms out of the shop. Steven, who has witnessed what happened, runs after Karsten and talks to him. They decide to go to Steven’s guesthouse. Meanwhile, a bailiff has arrived at the Zenker home and leaves seizure stickers everywhere. Erika therefore decides to leave her husband and finds refuge with Brigitta, who runs a guesthouse—the very one where Steven has also rented a room. While Brigitta and Erika discuss the situation, Steven and Karsten grow closer in the next room and eventually make a loud commotion in bed. Wolfgang, meanwhile, finds only a note from his wife at home saying, “I’m gone!” He learns, however, that she is staying at Brigitta’s guesthouse and drives there. When he gets to the parking lot, he spots Steven’s car. Since it is unlocked, he promptly decides to steal Steven’s entire sample collection. Brigitta sees him, however, and when Steven’s car alarm goes off, Steven also runs out onto the balcony to see what is happening. He spots Wolfgang and immediately runs out into the street. Karsten, not understanding what is going on, also goes out onto the balcony—and suddenly finds himself beside his mother, who is at least as surprised as he is. In all the commotion, Wolfgang’s car ends up in a small pond, and Steven’s collection gets completely soaked. Steven is more concerned with saving the clothes than with looking after Karsten, so Karsten goes home with his father. The next morning, Steven turns up at the Zenkers’ front door. At the breakfast table, he comes face to face with Wolfgang; understandably, neither has much to say to the other. Karsten nevertheless persuades Steven to let his father use the car. On the drive, Karsten finally tells his father that he is gay. Wolfgang is initially a little taken aback and, in turn, confesses that he has raided the training fund. When the two get home and finish tiling the bathroom, they talk, and Wolfgang comes to terms with having a gay son. Shortly afterward, Karsten’s mother returns, somewhat taken aback by the new bathroom, and she and Wolfgang make up. When Steven goes to pick up the clothes he had taken to the dry cleaner, he discovers that even a single wash has ruined the entire collection. He does not take it too seriously, though, saying they can simply change the labels and recommend hand-washing instead of washing at 30 degrees. There is still plenty of time to do that before the clothes reach the customers. With his work now finished, he says goodbye to Karsten and heads back to Hamburg.