Lilly Schönauer: Weiberhaushalt 2013 Movie Review

『A Small Moment of Liberation Where Hidden Emotions Bloom』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: Lilly Schönauer: Weiberhaushalt (2013)
🌍 Country: 🇩🇪 Germany / 🇦🇹 Austria
🎞️ Genre: Drama / Romance / TV Movie
🗓️ Production & Broadcast: Bavaria Filmproduktion, Graf Filmproduktion, ORF, ARD; 1 episode out of 14
⏳ Runtime: 89 minutes
📢 Director: Karola Hattop
🖋️ Screenplay: Anna Morgenrot
📺 Platform: ARD, ORF, Prime Video (selected regions)

👩‍💼 Cast: Mira Bartuschek – Eva
Anna Rot – Lucy

🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers)

🎭 Lilly Schönauer: Weiberhaushalt

This Austria-Germany co-produced TV movie from the "Lilly Schönauer" series (2013) follows the familiar formula of a typical German-language TV romance melodrama (Schmonzette). Set against the beautiful Austrian landscape, the film explores themes of career re-entry for women, female solidarity, and marital crisis.

🤝 The Story Background

The film revolves around the two female protagonists, Eva and Lucy.

• Eva’s Situation: Eva faces a career break after giving birth and dreams of returning to her profession in interior design. Her husband Philipp relocates for work, which temporarily separates the couple.

• A New Beginning and the 'Women’s Household': Eva unexpectedly reunites with her university friend Lucy, who is a furniture designer. Together, they form a partnership called “Interior Girls” and take on a design project. Eva, Lucy, and Eva’s baby begin living together, creating a vibrant “women’s household”.

• Philipp’s Threat: As Eva’s career thrives and her bond with Lucy deepens, Philipp feels threatened. Eva’s renewed independence and her close emotional connection with another woman challenge the traditional marital structure, escalating conflicts within the relationship.

🌅 Independence, Solidarity, and Traditional Roles

This film uses the sweet structure of a romance drama to address realistic issues faced by women.

① Career Break and Female Self-Realization (The Career Comeback)

Through Lucy, Eva rediscovers the talent she had put aside for motherhood. The film emphasizes the importance of women pursuing their professional dreams beyond the roles of mother or wife. Eva’s journey of accomplishment through design projects represents her regaining self-efficacy and identity.

② The 'Women’s Household' and Female Solidarity

As the title suggests, the shared space of Eva, Lucy, and the baby is central to the film. The “women’s household” symbolizes an independent space, a safe refuge free from patriarchal structures. Lucy’s free-spirited mindset brings vitality to Eva’s rigid life, and their partnership and emotional support empower Eva to stand on her own without her husband. It highlights how female friendship (Freundschaft) can serve as a powerful source of strength.

③ The Husband’s Insecurity and Traditional Roles

Philipp reacts not with joy but with jealousy and a sense of threat toward Eva’s success and independence, as well as her closeness with Lucy. This reflects the breakdown of the traditional marriage role model—a successful husband and a housewife wife—disrupted by Eva’s transformation. Philipp’s jealousy implies that the couple must either redefine their relationship or face its collapse.

🌾 A Women-Only Space, a True Sanctuary

As expected from a TV movie, Lilly Schönauer: Weiberhaushalt leans toward a warm and hopeful ending rather than deep philosophical reflection.

• Strengths: The beautiful Austrian countryside and the natural performances of Mira Bartuschek and Anna Rot provide comfort and vicarious satisfaction. Its positive portrayal of female friendship and career revival is a highlight.

• Limitations: The film stays within the conventional structure of TV romance drama, lacking dramatic tension or unpredictable developments. The conflicts (especially Philipp’s jealousy) are resolved somewhat simplistically, with the story ultimately leaning toward reaffirming the traditional marriage relationship.

This film delivers the message that “women can find their dreams and happiness even within marriage, and the solidarity of female friends is essential in that process.” It is a warm, light melodrama with that core message at heart.

🎯 Personal Rating (by preference)

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★