DEFA - Stiftung

Dokumentarfilmer Rüdiger Stein, ein Enddreißiger, hat sich vor allem mit Filmen über "Renaissanceriesen" beschäftigt. Doch er möchte endlich das wirkliche Leben vor die Kamera bekommen. Da läuft ihm ein minderjähriges Pärchen über den Weg, Klaus und Manuela. Sie ist schwanger, und die beiden wollen zusammen leben. Ein Stoff für Stein. Er setzt sein Projekt im Studio durch, scheitert aber an den Protagonisten, die nicht so wollen wie er. Sie zerstreiten sich. Als der Vater von Klaus stirbt, soll Stein Vormund werden. Er nimmt an, versucht die jungen Leute zu versöhnen. Es mißlingt. Auch seine eigene Beziehung scheitert. Stein sucht Unterschlupf bei seinem Mündel Klaus, während Manuela mit ihrem Kind bei einem anderen Mann lebt.
(Quelle: Das zweite Leben der Filmstadt Babelsberg. DEFA-Spielfilme 1946-1992)

Documentarist Rüdiger Stein has attained some popularity and recognition in his profession, but he does not only want to try his hand at historical subjects. Instead, he wants to get directly involved in shaping current social life. He is convinced he has at last found the right "mold" for a film - Klaus and Manuela, underaged lovers about to become parents - and goes all out to force through his project in the film studios. The film is to be called "Starting a Family". But things turn out differently from what he expected. The shooting comes to nothing: the young couple do what they want and not what the director demands of them. Rüdiger makes a new start, however:
Klaus's father, an alcoholic, has died and Rüdiger is to become the young man's guardian. He accepts and starts anew to play the role of destiny because his old project fascinates him as much as ever before. He reconciles the young couple with each other and shoots in the maternity ward when Manuela gives birth to her baby. These film takes are illegal and a scandal ensues. Rüdiger, whose life partner has chucked him out, quits at the studios and moves in with Klaus, who has been living on his own since Manuela found her "Mister Right". Rüdiger's self-styled concepts of life are outstripped by reality. But this helps him to go through life once again without blinkers - and, obsessed with film work, he cannot give it up.

Source: Progress Film-Verleih