Steck lieber mal was ein – Ein Schüler wird Lehrling (1980)

The film follows Gerd during his apprenticeship from 1977 to 1980. He wants to be an electrician, but after several disappointments, he takes a lathe operator job at Ford. For the first two years, he works in a workshop preparing for production. As he nears the end of his apprenticeship and the decision about a permanent job looms, Gerd feels intense pressure. His parents, worried about his future, urge him to be quiet and conform to ensure stability. Gerd starts to realize that the manual skills he's learning as a lathe operator are becoming outdated due to automation. The story explores career hopes, societal expectations, and technological change through the eyes of a young man growing up during a time of industrial transformation.