Sterne über dem Eis (2009)

Marine biologist Martin Schell is planning a polar expedition. The journalist assigned to report on the expedition is Nina, Martin’s childhood sweetheart. Another problem is Martin’s father, whom his sister unexpectedly drops off at Martin’s place for three weeks. Martin’s relationship with his father has never been good, and after Martin abruptly tries to place him in an assisted-living facility, the lively, strong-willed retiree escapes and sneaks aboard the research vessel, posing as a reporter. Martin soon discovers him there, but with the captain’s permission, allows him to stay on board. Tensions soon arise between Martin’s girlfriend Doreen, who is also on the ship, and Nina, because Doreen notices the looks passing between them. Martin’s father also tries to rekindle the old flame, since he liked Nina even back then. Martin tries to maintain a professional distance from her, but unconsciously keeps seeking her company more and more often. Nina, however, is rather distant and wants Martin to stay out of her life. She gives only brief answers to personal questions, such as whether she has a boyfriend or a daughter. Martin had cheated on her with another woman back then, and it still affects her to this day. She struggles against her old feelings, but when Martin tells her how sorry he is about everything, reconciliation seems close. Doreen, too, increasingly realizes how hopeless it is to fight against an old love. Just then, Martin’s father suffers a heart attack and is flown by helicopter to a hospital. In his suitcase, Martin finds a letter in which his father makes peace with his son. He had thoroughly enjoyed the polar voyage and suspected that he might not have much time left to make peace with Martin. He had always been hurt that his son did not want to take over the plumbing business he had built up with great effort, but chose to study instead. Only aboard the ship did he realize how right Martin had been to follow his own path. Since Martin accompanied his father to the hospital, he takes the opportunity while on the mainland to visit Nina’s daughter, whom her mother has left in a neighbor’s care for the duration of the polar expedition. When Martin asks Julia for her date of birth, he realizes that he must be her father. When Nina returns from the expedition, her daughter asks why she has lied to her all these years and denied her a father. Julia promptly sneaks out of the apartment and visits Martin at the institute, having found its address in her mother’s papers. Martin is unsure what to do, but his father, now recovering, encourages him, and Martin proposes to Nina.