Der letzte Patriarch (2010)

Part 1: Konrad Hansen, long-established Lübeck marzipan manufacturer, resigns as head of the company. His successor will not, as expected, be his first-born son Sven, who always worked hard for the business, but the smart high-flyer Lars. Lars had impressed his father with the future-oriented - but also risky - expansion of the company into China. The family is appalled by the patriarch's lonely decision, and a dispute ensues. During the crisis, Konrad remembers his longtime confidant Ruth, an artist who lives in seclusion in the Frisian countryside and whom he trusts. Konrad has no idea how quickly he will regret his decision to appoint Lars as head of the company. When he arrives with his much younger wife Valerie and Lars for the topping-out ceremony for the new factory in Shanghai, he receives shocking news: Chinese product pirates have perfectly imitated the closely guarded Hansen marzipan recipe. Konrad fears that the cheap forgery could bring down the Hansen empire. Reluctantly, he enlists the help of business journalist Florian von Wachsmuth, who lives and works in Shanghai. The reporter, whose focus is on counterfeits, tries to track down the product pirates, he senses a big story. Konrad has to go back to Lübeck to prevent the worst from happening there. Von Wachsmuth is actually successful in his research. In the process, he uncovers a carefully guarded family secret that Konrad would have liked to keep under lock and key. Part 2: Konrad Hansen travels back to China with Ruth at his side to find his adversary. In Shanghai he meets Mei Jing and his own past catches up with him. Mei Jing once lived in the Hansens' house in Lübeck, where Konrad, already married, began an affair with the talented young musician. For the sake of family honor, he sent Mei Jing away and gave her money. At that time, Konrad had no idea that she was pregnant. Thus, his illegitimate son Tao grew up in China, obsessed with revenge on his father. With his illegal factory, Tao is causing serious damage to the Hansen Empire. But Konrad tracks down the unauthorized production site. It is now only a matter of time before the Chinese authorities put a stop to the product pirates. Konrad flies back to Europe. He thinks he is already on the road to victory when another stroke of fate hits him. His son Sven, suffering from depression, takes his own life after an argument with the patriarch. Only after Sven's death is Konrad ready to question his own actions. His confidante and friend Ruth makes it clear to him that he has to look ahead. Konrad manages to reunite the family. Now all he has to do is talk things out with his son Tao, because he's cut from the same cloth as his father. And he also knows a lot about marzipan. Entertainment specialist Michael Steinke staged the gripping family drama about a Hanseatic marzipan dynasty. The role of the grumpy patriarch was tailor-made for Mario Adorf. As Konrad's spiritual adviser, Hannelore Elsner sets theatrical accents. Max Urlacher, Kai Scheve, Ursula Karven, Julia Richter, Heio von Stetten and Tina Bordihn can also be seen. The renowned author Brigitte Blobel is responsible for the book.