Silvesterpunsch (1960)

The sons of former boxer Wilhelm Lehmann, Michel and Franz, are both brigade leaders at a chemical plant. Michel heads the sports brigade and puts his passion for sports above everything else. He expects the brigade members to do the same, so family life often suffers under the pressure of training and the constant sports events. Young Knispel, too, would much rather spend an evening with Wilhelm’s granddaughter Suse. She, in turn, belongs to Franz’s brigade, which is devoted to culture and diligently rehearses with its band. In just a few days, the chemical plant’s long-prepared New Year’s Eve revue is due to take place, featuring a figure-skating program accompanied by the band. Since the event is to be televised, everything has to be perfect. The two brigades have to learn to work together. They travel together to their New Year’s winter retreat, where it soon becomes clear that the sports brigade also has musical talent and the arts brigade is athletic too—but only while the two brigade leaders are out of sight. When their father, Wilhelm, tries to acquaint his sons with each other’s interests and calls on both brigades to go skiing on the Fichtelberg, he then wants to see and hear a joint cultural program at the mountain lodge. But Franz refuses and takes his brigade to use the ski lift instead. At the top, Michel sees no reason to dance and would rather play skat. Once again, a rift opens between them. Only later do the two brigades come together through two couples: Suse, celebrated as a solo figure skater at the successful ice revue, spends New Year’s Eve in Knispel’s arms. Stern Michel and Ruth, a sports enthusiast from Franz’s brigade, become a couple. And the new year begins with fireworks and New Year’s Eve punch.