Synopsis:
In the summer of 1945 right after the end of World War II, factory worker Karl Bluecher, known as Kalle, sets out from Dresden for Wittenberge to try and procure carbide, which is desperately needed for re-starting production in a destroyed factory. It is not by chance that Kalle is the one to go: On one hand, his brother-in-law works at the carbide plant in Wittenberge; on the other, Kalle is a vegetarian and so would definitely manage to nourish himself on roadside plants on his journey. He does get through to Wittenberge and could return to Dresden with seven drums of carbide, if only he had the required means of transport... His return journey is quite an adventure. Kalle gets to know Karla, a young peasant woman, falls in love with her (and she with him), yet does not stay with her because his colleagues in Dresden are urgently waiting for the carbide. At one stage, Kalle is arrested by Soviet officers for alleged profiteering, and then released again. He foils American officers and manages to cover quite a stretch home in a military motor-boat. He escapes a man-crazy widow, a mined forest, a ship-wreck and many other calamities. Meanwhile, he takes up all sorts of odd jobs. Eventually, he gets back to Dresden with only two drums of carbide. Still, that will do for a new beginning. However, there is no keeping Kalle at work with his colleagues - he is heading for Karla. Combining fast-paced humor, keen social observation and popular appeal, this film reached over 1 million viewers in a short three-month period.

Press Comments:
"Giving away details of the storyline and the gags would be spoiling the fun. Besides, many of the punch-lines are so cinematographic that retellling them would prove difficult." -- Margot Schroeder in the Berlin Junge Welt of 03.01.1964

"A film for Erwin Geschonneck. That long face, that thin mouth - altogether that matter-of-fact dryness. Take pity on those sides of yours - they will be splitting once the joke gets to the laughing muscles!" -- Hans-Dieter Schuett in the Berlin Junge Welt of 07.03.1984

An uproarious odyssey full of high jinks and misadventure! -- The Museum of Modern Art

One of the best German film comedies! -- The Oxford History of World Cinema

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