Dann passiert das Leben

A Heartwarming Comedy

DE/AT 2026 – 120 min. – Directed by: Neele Leana Vollmar / Screenplay: Neele Leana Vollmar / With: Anke Engelke, Ulrich Tukur, Lukas Rüppel, Maria Hofstätter – German version

Hans, who is about to retire as a school principal, moves through life more like a guest for his wife Rita. Their son has long since moved out, and the long-standing marriage follows a well-rehearsed routine where Rita sets the pace. And if it were up to her, there's no reason to change anything about it. In fact: she doesn’t like changes. The new tiles in the bathroom are just the beginning of something that worries Rita greatly. Suddenly, old wounds become visible again. All of a sudden, the two realize how little they know about their son’s life. Suddenly, there’s an emptiness in their lives. Suddenly, it’s unclear whether they are two individuals or a couple. But then life happens…
Under the empathetic direction of Neele Leana Vollmar, Anke Engelke and Ulrich Tukur as Rita and Hans tell with quiet intensity and subtle humor about the search for meaning, the courage to change, and the strength of long-term relationships.

“A stroke of luck in German cinema.” STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG
“A touching homage to love.” ARD BRISANT