Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day

1972

1 Season

7.6

ComedyDrama

Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (German: Acht Stunden sind kein Tag) is a West German television drama miniseries written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Commissioned by Westdeutscher Rundfunk, it broadcast in five episodes between 1972 and 1973. In Cologne, West Germany, young toolmaker Jochen's world is explored, including those around him: the woman he loves, his eccentric family, and his fellow workers, with whom he bands together to improve conditions on the factory floor.

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Episodes

E1Oct 29, 19721h 47m

Jochen and Marion

In Cologne lives the middle-class Epp family, where one son, Jochen, works in a tool factory and shares close comradeship with his colleagues. While out to purchase alcohol for a family gathering, Jochen meets the beautiful Marion Andreas, who has an office advertising job, a love affair between them develops.

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E2Dec 27, 19721h 45m

Oma and Gregor

Grandmother Oma spends time searching for an apartment she can afford with her new boyfriend Gregor, a gentleman she has picked up in a park. When they run across a library space being abandoned by town authorities, Oma comes up with the idea of taking it over as a kindergarten for the neighbourhood children with no place to play except the street. She and Gregor become do-it-yourself squatters.

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E3Jan 21, 19731h 37m

Franz and Ernst

The closely knit comrades at the factory have hoped that, after some training, Franz would replace the recently deceased foreman. But their office manager prefers to bring in an outsider, which causes tension.

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E4Feb 18, 19731h 35m

Harald and Monika

Prodded by a visit from Marion's strict mother, Jochen plans to marry Marion. Whereas tensions growing between Monika and the abusive Harald lead Monika to consider divorce.

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E5Mar 18, 19731h 34m

Irmgard and Rolf

With the news the factory is relocating, Jochen and Marion ask if they can switch apartments with Kathe and Wolf, to be closer to their respective jobs. And with this new inconvenience, the workers come up with a list of demands, including the seemingly impractical proposal that they arrange their own schedule rather than it being dictated by the bosses.

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