15-year old Klaus Kambor, called Kurbel, is living in a village in Lusatia and already thinks of himself as an adult. He can hold a lot of rhubarb wine and has already kissed a girl. But with his new method of lawn mowing, which he thinks is brilliant, Klaus makes a big mistake: He causes a wild fire in the forest. Then he does not react adult-like at all, but shirks the responsibility, which leads to the break-up with his girlfriend Daniela. Furthermore, Klaus does not realize that several of the places he likes the most in his environment are now going to be sacrificed to mining. When Klaus becomes friends with the teacher Konzak and with the construction worker Jule, he feels understood for the first time and starts to take more responsibility.

Dr. Zacharias is an experienced and demanding woman. She sees her daughter Manuela as the continuation and fulfillment of her own life. She wants her daughter to achieve as much or more than her, and under the easier conditions of the present time. But Manuela does not seem to be the type who can fulfill this aspiration, as she is superficial and stubborn. Manuela is even expelled from the university for cheating. But even now she seems unwilling to recognize her mistakes and turn her life around.