Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (Acht Stunden sind kein Tag)

A Family Series

Overview

Commissioned to make a working-class family drama for public television, up-and-coming director Rainer Werner Fassbinder took the assignment and ran, dodging expectations by depicting social realities in West Germany from a critical—yet far from cynical—perspective. Over the course of five episodes, the sprawling story tracks the everyday triumphs and travails of the young toolmaker Jochen and many of the people populating his world, including the woman he loves, his eccentric family, and his fellow workers, with whom he bands together to improve conditions on the factory floor.

Key Crew

Top Cast

Gottfried John

Jochen Epp

Hanna Schygulla

Marion Andreas

Luise Ullrich

Grandma

Werner Finck

Gregor

Wolfried Lier

Wolf

Irm Hermann

Irmgard Erlkönig

Kurt Raab

Harald

Wolfgang Schenck

Franz Miltenberger

Seasons

• Season 1

Season 1 (1972)

The young toolmaker Jochen fights with his colleagues to a performance bonus. He gets to know the girl Marion. For both, it is love at first sight.

5 episodes

Episodes

Episode 1: Jochen and Marion

1972-10-29

A love affair blossoms between middle-class tool factory employee Jochen and office advertiser Marion.

Runtime: 107 min

Episode 2: Oma and Gregor

1972-12-27

Jochen's grandmother Oma searches for an affordable apartment to share with Gregor, a gentleman she picked up in a park. When Oma comes across an abandoned library space, she and Gregor decide to become do-it-yourself squatters and turn it into a kindergarten.

Runtime: 105 min

Episode 3: Franz and Ernst

1973-01-21

After the death of the foreman, the tool factory comrades hope that Franz will get promoted. However, tensions rise when the manager instead brings in an outsider.

Runtime: 97 min

Episode 4: Harald and Monika

1973-02-18

Following a visit from Marion's strict mother, Jochen is pressured into proposing. Meanwhile, growing strained relations between Monika and the overbearing Harald start Monika on thoughts of divorce.

Runtime: 95 min

Episode 5: Irmgard and Rolf

1973-03-18

Upon discovering that the tool factory is being relocated, Jochen and Marion seek a new place while the workers list demands for their growing impatience.

Runtime: 94 min

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