In 2018 the comedy "Der Vorname" premiered. Four years later, on October 20th, the sequel "Der Nachname", again directed by Sönke Wortmann (63, "Contra"), will start. The star ensemble of Iris Berben (72), Christoph Maria Herbst (56), Florian David Fitz (47), Caroline Peters (51), Justus von Dohnányi (61) and Janina Uhse (33) embarks on a wild ride again between family secrets and couple problems.
While in the predecessor a dispute about the name of the offspring escalated and the joking suggestion "Adolf" was hotly debated, this time everything revolves around the surname of the family, which a member has lost through marriage and is therefore met with incomprehension.
After a cozy dinner in "Der Vorname" escalated into a big argument, the Böttcher family firmly resolved in "Der Nachname" that a family reunion in Lanzarote should be harmonious. But shortly after the arrival of the couple Stephan (Christoph Maria Herbst) and Elisabeth (Caroline Peters) as well as Paula's new parents, Thomas (Florian David Fitz) and Anna (Janina Uhse), in the family finca on Lanzarote, break up new conflicts in the family. Starting with the announcement that mother Dorothea (Iris Berben) and adopted son René (Justus von Dohnányi) not only got married, but also adopted Dorothea René's surname König. The fact that she has given up the name of her deceased husband and his deceased father and that his adoptive brother could possibly dispute his inheritance is particularly annoying to Thomas.
The argument about the naming ("The surname is what remains of us!") is only the initial spark, for the siblings Elisabeth and Thomas it gets even worse: their 68-year-old mother and René have a desire to have children and already have one precise plan of how they want to fulfill this. In addition to the couple's obscure plans, the siblings also have to deal with their own relationships. Under the Spanish sun, some secrets that the married couples have swept under the carpet in their everyday lives come to light. The disputes escalate quickly and what remains is the realization that the family and its members are "fucking strange" and not perfect at all. Can the hotheads pull themselves together again?
Unlike its predecessor, The First Name, which was based on the French play Le Prénom, this time the filmmakers had to spin the story themselves. Screenwriter Claudius Pläging relied on the one hand on a further narration of the family history and the more in-depth examination of the three relationships of the couples, on the other hand he gives a glimpse into the past with the supporting role of Lucia (Elena Sancho Pereg), the daughter of the Böttchers' former housekeeper of the family and thus sets a new impetus.
Even without prior knowledge, the viewer is taken in by an initial summary of the events in "The First Name". In the first scenes, you can quickly get an impression of the characters and their idiosyncrasies. The initial argument about the surname quickly fades into the background. Instead, at every corner of the relationship, a new conflict flares up about everyday life with a child, sex life or finances, which maintains the tension in the chamber play apart from the visual repetition through the center of rotation in the house. The latter, on the other hand, offers variety this time through several venues in rooms and outdoor areas, whereas in "Der Vorname" everything was concentrated on the dinner location. The island landscape of Lanzarote and scenes by the sea or in a restaurant also provide visual added value. The barren volcanic landscape in particular fits all too well with the crisis situations and the smoldering conflicts in the family.
It doesn't matter whether they're almost at each other's throats or hanging out together in trees inspired by hash biscuits, the unequal duo Thomas and Stephan provide the highlights in the film. Florian David Fitz skilfully mimics the quick-tempered workaholic who, for his wife, is all too often childish, Christoph Maria Herbst the language-obsessed cynic, who, thanks to the screenplay, once again provides the best entertainment with his pointed comments. In contrast, Iris Berben captivates as a calm soul in a family quarrel and makes a negative and positive impression on her family with just a few words.
For fans of the predecessor, "The Last Name" is a must-see. The story is a meaningful continuation and allows you to delve deeper into the amusing world of the Böttcher-Berger-Königs with their sometimes very normal family problems. The well-rehearsed ensemble once again shows a lot of joy in its roles and the astute dialogues, which repeatedly develop surprising explosive powers. Lanzarote as a varied new location and a supporting role that is involuntarily drawn into the family quarrel round off the coherent sequel.
