Wie die Karnickel (2002)

Horst Bömmelburg’s relationship with his girlfriend Vera is stressful and unsatisfying in every way. After Vera finds a pornographic film in the trash, she leaves him on the spot and moves in with her mother. Horst renews his friendship with his new neighbor and former schoolmate, Siggi, who is gay and offers him a new, much more relaxed perspective on his own sex drive. At the same time, Horst begins an affair with the famous soprano Kriemhild Nastrowa, who is currently guest-performing with the orchestra where Horst works as a double bassist. Vera knows nothing about any of this and, on the advice of her friend Gilla, tries to seduce Horst in lingerie during a dinner together, but fails miserably. Gilla then introduces Vera to Gudrun and Britta, editors at Xanthippe magazine. They interpret Vera’s story in their own way and publish an article portraying Horst as a ruthless “perpetrator.” Shortly afterward, Vera shows up at a house party hosted by Horst and Siggi. When Horst clumsily tries to soothe Vera’s feelings of humiliation over their dinner, she brutally kicks him in the groin and leaves the party. That same evening, Kriemhild ends her affair with Horst. He is actually rather relieved, since her insatiable sexual appetite and constant vocal exercises had become too much for him in the long run. Kriemhild marries the orchestra’s elderly conductor, Zacharias Brettschneider, who secures her an engagement at La Scala. Their neighbor Siggi has just broken up with his longtime boyfriend, Hubert, and is living between one-night stands and the desire to get back together with Hubert. When Siggi’s mother announces that she is coming to visit, he finally wants to tell her that he is gay, and plans to present Hubert as his steady partner. Hubert refuses, however, so Siggi asks a one-night stand, Benno, to fill in for him. When his mother arrives, Hubert unexpectedly turns up after all, and Siggi’s charade is exposed. Hubert, who has met Benno through this, begins an affair with him. Horst has told Siggi that he is passionately attracted to porn star Kelly Trump. Without Horst’s knowledge, Siggi signs him up as a guest on the trash-talk show Catch Your Dreams, which has also invited Kelly Trump, a fellow performer, and the editors from Xanthippe. Horst goes to the show with Siggi, believing he is there as an audience member, but the host brings him onto the couch. Horst is publicly exposed as a porn addict; the other guests are introduced, and the host does his best to set them against one another. Siggi, who only wanted to give Horst the chance to meet Kelly Trump, tries to leave the live show with him, but then Vera appears. She has watched the show on television and is so furious about the distorted account of her relationship with Horst from Xanthippe, which was read aloud during the show, that she rushes into the studio to set the record straight. As furious confrontations rage on the show stage, Vera spontaneously befriends Kelly Trump. Then Horst, who had been completely overlooked until that point, speaks up. He demands to know what all the fuss is about and asks everyone who has ever watched a porn film to stand up. After some hesitation, the whole audience is standing. After the show, Vera and Horst make peace and agree that their relationship had no foundation. Vera goes to a pub with Kelly, while Horst and Siggi walk home, philosophizing.