Ein Schnitzel für drei

Wolfgang is an unemployed salesman who tries to keep an upbeat outlook, while his friend Günther, a zookeeper, tends to answer reality with bluntness. Their comfortable routine is upended when Günther discovers a stash of several hundred thousand euros belonging to their elderly, confused neighbor. The two decide to take the money, and that choice pulls them into a mix of schemes, awkward cover stories and unexpected responsibilities as they start caring for the man. The film keeps the tone light but awkward, trading quick humor for scenes that probe conscience and loyalty, and it leans on character interactions instead of plot twists.

Released in 2009 as a made-for-television comedy, Ein Schnitzel für drei was directed by Manfred Stelzer and created by Stefan Barth, Thomas Koch and Peter Freiberg. The cast includes Armin Rohde as Günther Kuballa, Ludger Pistor as Wolfgang Krettek, Branko Samarovski, Caroline Peters and Therese Hämer, and it premiered on German television rather than in cinemas.

As a TV movie it didn’t generate theatrical box office figures, since it was produced for broadcast. There aren’t public worldwide gross numbers to report, and its reach depended on television airings and subsequent home media or streaming availability in German-speaking markets.

Critical and audience response was mixed to positive, reflected in a modest online rating around 6.8 out of 10 from a small sample of viewers. Reviewers tended to note the film’s handling of morality with humor, the contrast between idealism and pragmatism, and the way everyday friendships are tested when money and care are at stake.

While not a major cultural phenomenon, the film found a modest audience in Germany and is remembered for strong lead performances, especially Armin Rohde’s dry comic timing. Its scenes about responsibility toward an elderly neighbor and the awkward compromises friends make have kept it in rotation among fans of German TV comedies.