Steck lieber mal was ein – Ein Schüler wird Lehrling

The film delves into the life of Gerd during a crucial period in his apprenticeship, spanning from 1977 to 1980. Initially aspiring to become an electrician, Gerd faces multiple setbacks and reluctantly accepts a position as a lathe operator at Ford. In the initial two years, he is confined to a workshop for apprentices, preparing for the challenges he will face in production during his third year. As the deadline approaches for determining whether he'll be taken on as a permanent employee, Gerd finds himself under immense pressure.His parents, fearing the uncertainty of his career path, scold him when he voices his discontent with the apprenticeship. They remind him to remain low-profile and conform in order to secure a stable future. As Gerd grapples with this expectation, he comes to a sobering realization: the manual labor skills he is acquiring as a lathe operator are becoming obsolete due to automation. This poignant narrative explores themes of career aspirations, societal pressure, and technological progress through the lens of one young man's coming-of-age journey during the dawn of a rapidly changing industrial landscape.