Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day

Synopsis

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.

First Air Date: 1972-10-29

Last Air Date: 1973-03-18

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 5

Created By: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Networks: WDR Fernsehen

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Gottfried John as Jochen Epp
Wolfried Lier as Wolf Epp
Irm Hermann as Irmgard Erlkönig
Anita Bucher as Käthe Epp
Werner Finck as Gregor Mack
Hanna Schygulla as Marion Andreas
Wolfgang Schenck as Franz Miltenberger
Rudolf Waldemar Brem as Rolf Schwein
Wolfgang Zerlett as Manfred Müller
Grigorios Karipidis as Guiseppe Giuliano

Seasons

Miniseries (1972)

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.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Jochen and Marion (1972-10-29)

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.
Ep. 2: Oma and Gregor (1972-12-27)

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.
Ep. 3: Franz and Ernst (1973-01-21)

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.
Ep. 4: Harald and Monika (1973-02-18)

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.
Ep. 5: Irmgard and Rolf (1973-03-18)

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.