Tonio & Julia - Ein neues Leben (2019)

Kati Amin appears at the family counseling center of the Catholic parish of St. Sixtus. Since suffering a stroke a year ago, the IT expert has not only been unable to walk properly, but her left arm is also paralyzed, and she has become consumed by self-pity. Her twelve-year-old son Henry rejects her and behaves aggressively toward her. His behavior at school is also troubling. It goes so far that Henry is suspended from school for a few days after hitting his classmates. Father Niederegger happens to be at the school and witnesses Henry’s problems. He therefore feels compelled to help the boy. Kati Amin’s case is a challenge for Julia, since she has little experience with the limitations caused by a stroke. She seeks advice from a physiotherapist and also consults the hospital doctor, Dr. Felix Born. He tells her that depression after a stroke is fairly common, but can be treated effectively. For now, however, Kati Amin refuses all help and does not even show up for her appointment at the family counseling center. Her husband, Yunus, explains to Julia that this is Kati’s decision. Julia tells him, though, that the situation affects the whole family, including both him and Henry. She promptly has Yunus use the counseling slot that has opened up and listens to his concerns. Meanwhile, Tonio looks after Henry, who has to do community service at the church for his misbehavior at school. In the end, Henry is quite glad about it, because Tonio is someone who finally listens to him. Yunus Amin begins coming to the counseling center regularly. Julia encourages him to set boundaries with his wife, who is still wallowing in self-pity, and to think about himself and his own needs for a change. That includes his son, and it is important to spend time with him. If his wife does not understand and continues making no effort to change her situation, he could even threaten to move out. Kati Amin is extremely angry at first, but soon has a change of heart and tries to make herself useful around the house. Despite a few setbacks, her husband is delighted. But his happiness does not last long: when Kati tries to help Henry with his homework, things escalate and Henry runs away from home. Everyone now searches for the boy, and Kati uses the means available to her as well. Since Henry has taken a laptop with him, she is able to track him and sets off alone to find him. This impresses her son, and the two talk things through. Yunus is also astonished and has renewed hope that everything will turn out for the better.