Original subtitles

HARVEST

"Each herd has about 50 cows, two breeding bulls and their calves.

The breeding bulls mate with the cows, who then calve on pasture.

If the mother can't rear a calf because she has twins, for example,

it's reared by hand in the barn.

Herding and handling the animals unsettles them.

Some grow aggressive.

For this reason, everyone involved must remain focused and work quickly."

On 4 August, 2006 I began training to become a farmer.

At first, I had trouble coping with everything.

I found it really hard to be on time.

But I've established a good reputation for myself.

I was often given work the other trainees wouldn't do.

They had driving licenses and were "too good for it."

My training has shown me

there's no need to be scared of technology.

As we all know, you never stop learning.

Look at all those sheep!

Everyone keep still now.

- Where is it? - Here.

We could try it with a calf.

- Are you scared? - Maybe.

Are you scared or not?

Stay there!

We'll get her that end.

- Where are you going? - He's doing a runner!

They look so angry!

Keep still, now.

- You see! Not always that easy, is it? - Smart arse.

Now, if you want to move her, you'll need to keep a firm grip here.

If she tries to break free keep your hand here

so you can turn her head.

Keep a firm grip on her.

If you don't, she'll run rings around you.

Did you see that? She's a tame one.

You'll have to handle the wild ones too.

What's up with Marco? Can't be bothered?

We're not quite done yet. I have something else to show you.

If you don't listen you'll miss half of it again.

And then you'll blame me.

Right, let's go.

When we're done we'll have breakfast.

- Are you a grown man or not, Marco? - Yes, I am.

Well... you should be, at least.

At some point...

We've talked a lot about what happened in your family.

Everything you went through as a child and your family problems.

But at some point you have to be prepared to draw a line

and say, "I’m Marco the grown-up now and not Marco the son.

This is my life now.

I won't let what I went through hold me back anymore."

- It won't get you anywhere. - Well, I...

I am getting on with it. I do my work.

- Yes, you do. - it’s the written work...

You're a good worker. We have no complaints about that.

And that's the point: that's precisely the reason

we're considering taking you on if you pass the final exam.

But ability is not enough. You have to want it.

We've no doubt that you're physically and mentally up to it.

But you have to be willing too. You have to want it.

Wanting and working are two different things.

It's the attitude within that's important.

I'm not really sure yet if it's right for me.

I mean... working here.

Do you want to be taken on or not?

I have to let the board know what you want to do.

- I don't know. - That complicates things a bit.

- Do you have to do that? - It's good for my fingers.

Good?

If your fingers feel good when you do that now

you'll hardly be able to move them when you're 30.

- You reckon I'll make 30? - You don't think so?

Don't know.

Do you want this?

Thank God work's over.

- Finally! - What a day!

Am I sweaty or what? That's gross. It really stinks!

- All that work. - Take bigger strokes!

- Just kidding! Carry on. - Are you nuts? Don't scare me!

If your hand slipped just a tiny bit...

- This razor won't do much damage. - That's for sure!

80... 90. Euro!

- I dropped some moves earlier. - Yeah, right!

- How much altogether? - 5 or 6 euros.

Another crate?

- Hey, look who it is! Marco! - Marco!

- Hey. - Come over and join us.

- What? - Come over.

Come and hang out with us a bit.

- Sit down and have a beer. - You know I don't drink.

- Where are you going? - Go on! Sit down.

- See you tomorrow. - Don't be so lame!

Run off then with your organic crap. You won't catch me eating that!

- What's up with him? - He's in his final year.

- Has he learned to write yet? - No idea.

I don't know.

- Morning. - Morning.

Morning. I'm Jakob.

So, here are the big ones.

Morning.

I'll show you what to do.

- What was your name again? - I'm Mrs Thymian.

Go on! Get in there!

Move it.

- They've got horns. - You've got to watch those ones!

Go on, move it!

- They know I'll hit them on the nose. - Oh, right.

Don't you dare!

And then make sure you get the gate shut again quickly.

Check it's shut properly.

It doesn't need to be that clean.

When you muck out you always miss the odd bit of straw or dung.

You can sweep that away from the other side.

It stinks!

- I'll do it then. - No, it's okay.

Got nothing to do?

I have actually.

- Don't fall asleep now. - Okay.

Come over here.

Okay.

Lola worked until 2 p.m. I've got that.

- What about you, Katharina? - From 7 a.m.

I'm afraid you have to work on Sundays during harvest.

There's no other way. And you, Christian?

- Yesterday? - Yes.

- From 7 a.m. to 8.15 p.m. - And the day before?

From 7 am. to 5 p.m.

- Did you bring in the grain yesterday? - No. Straw.

So, before I check your record books

I'd like to introduce a new intern to you.

- Maybe you can introduce yourself, Jakob. - Okay.

Well... I'm Jakob Schäfer.

We want to know more than that. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm from Ludwigsfelde and...

I started training to work in a bank, but decided to quit the course.

So what made you decide to go into farming

and not into banking?

I don't know really. it just wasn't my thing.

There's quite a pay gap between banking and farming.

I bet they're all a bit snooty, too.

- That too. - What does a banking apprentice earn?

In the first year, you get about 800 euros a month.

It's a sad fact and it won't change.

The bankers will always earn more

than the production workers.

I'd just like to say something.

The people in charge of each area are authorized to give you instructions.

If they tell you to do something, you don't reply:

"You can't boss me around, weirdo."

- Who said that? - It doesn't matter.

- "Weirdo"? Surely no one said that. - It was reported to me.

I just want to make that clear.

"It was reported"? What does that mean?

Either say what you mean or say nothing at all.

Get it into your heads: you have to treat others with respect.

Otherwise I'll have to write something in your references.

You go with Katharina.

Don't be scared to come and ask me if you have any questions at all.

- Okay, then enjoy your first day, Jakob. - Thanks.

Didn't you shower today?

Shit!

What did you press?

It's okay. It happened to me once too.

- I pressed it. - What's all this? Started a flood?

- I pressed it, honest. - Okay, no problem.

Let's go then.

--Hello.

- Survived the day? - Of course.

- Are you going back tomorrow? - Yes.

- Anything to eat? - It's on the table.

Here you go. Number 18.

And a coke.

That's five euros, please.

Thanks.

- Bye. - Bye.

Marco?

- Hey. - All right?

- So, how's it going? - Okay. How about you?

Great, thanks.

I... was just about to go in and get some more beer.

- Do you fancy a drink? - No, thanks.

Okay, I understand.

- You prefer the sugary stuff anyway. - Yeah, you know me.

So... everything okay with work?

Yes.

- And life in general? - It's okay.

- Do you know the girls? - No.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Maybe another time. - Okay.

- Take care, Fine. - Bye.

- Have a nice evening. - Bye.

- Have you ever had any problems? - We haven't, actually. Touch wood.

- What do you mean by "actually"? - We don't take any risks with them.

So if we go out there today and notice that one of the cows

is throwing its weight around a bit or has pricked up its ears

or keeps moving its head to one side,

then we know somethings up with her.

We'll have to watch our step if she has a calf.

But nothing's happened to anyone yet. Touch wood.

- What now? - No, not that one.

The one on the right, by your knees. Disconnect those two.

- They're not electrified? - No.

Don't worry! They're not electrified. Just detach them from the insulators.

That's it. And then lay them behind the car.

- Or to the side. That it work too. - Okay?

Not too far, or you'll walk a mile on the way back.

That's a breeding bull I reared by hand.

He's called Phillip.

He's still young. Only two years old.

- Two years? - Yes.

Phillip!

Phillip! What are you up to there?

Come here. Come on.

Phillip.

Good boy.

- Aren't you scared? - No, Phillip knows me, don't you?

See the little red one with the white-tipped tail?

That might be a new one. I'll keep my eye on it.

If we can't catch it, I'll drive a bit faster

and when the calf lifts its tail, you reach out and try to grab it.

Sorry? What?

Yes, that's a new calf.

Now we just have to work out if the mother's in a good mood or not.

Watch it run!

- Now I'll have to drive a bit faster. - What should I do now?

Hang on. Hand me those red pliers.

Now you have to... Oh, no! I didn't bring the staff.

Calm down, Granny.

- What's the staff for? - 49084.

What if they go for me?

I didn't bring a staff. We need one.

Get out of the car now. Take this with you. Phillip!

- What should I do? - Follow me.

I'll try and grab the calf.

If the cow goes for me, then do this and say, "Go away!"

But don't run off!

Everything's Okay.

Go away! Go away!

- Like that? - That's right.

- Go away! - Calm down now.

You have to try and keep its mouth shut. We don't want it to start mooing.

- Go away! - Calm down now.

Calm down.

Keep your eyes on the cow, not on me.

Move away now. Everything's okay. It's all okay.

Don't get mad now.

Calm down. Everything's okay now. Right, then. We did it.

You must get a bit scared when you're on your own.

Of course. Everyone gets a little nervous.

Open up the fence for me, will you?

You'll have to get out here.

Close the door. Close the door! It'll slam shut otherwise.

- Shall I close it off again? - Yes, close it off.

- Look at you. Been hard at it? - Sure have.

- Hi, Jakob. - All right?

Everything else okay?

- Morning. - Hello.

Morning, Holger.

Let's take a break now.

First we'll turn on the battery and check the current.

If the animals touch this they'll get a right shock.

- What if I touch it? - You'll get a shock too.

- A bad one? - Hang on a minute.

- Take this... - Okay.

Take the leaf and touch it gently. Nothing will happen.

That's a pretty mean shock!

Now just imagine how the cows feel when they touch it with their wet noses.

- That was funny. - Found a new victim.

Exactly. A new victim.

I get sucked in so easily.

- See you later. - Bye.

You want one?

Mrs Thymian is pretty cool, isn't she?

But getting up early and that...

It's hard work.

Have you ever flown?

Yes.

Where to?

To Tunisia. With my parents.

Are you studying for your exams and that?

I should be.

But I go to Lehmkieten instead.

What's that?

- It's a lake. - A lake.

Wait a minute!

What else do you get up to? Have you got a girlfriend?

- Got your sights set on someone? - No, not at the moment.

Not at all?

I'm more...

I was with someone, but it wasn't a relationship.

More an internet thing.

On the internet?

- A chat room? - Yes.

Why didn't it work out?

I don't really know.

Oh, well. You'll find someone.

Great.

Nice house.

- Okay. Thanks. - No problem. Have a nice evening.

- Is there really a tank in there? - Yes.

I'm going to have a look.

- Where is it then? - Further.

Attention! Tank could not be located!

- Do you live on your own? - No, I live in a flat share.

- Have done since I was 17. - What about your parents?

My mum was on the booze all the time. I had to get out.

And your father'?

Not worth mentioning.

What are you staring at?

Got a problem?

- I didn't... - You were staring at me.

- What's the problem? - You'll have one soon. Poof!

Go on. Piss off!

- You'd think so, wouldn't you? - Any coffee left?

I'll get some out of it.

What do you get if you cross a blonde and a husky?

A blonde and a husky? No idea.

Either a stupid mutt or one hell of a hardy hussy.

Can I have an ash tray?

- What's Mrs Butsch like? - Mrs Butsch?

- She's like a second mum to all of us. - She is.

Did you see earlier I had that little scratch.

And she was like, "Oh! Let's get some ointment on that!"

She's brilliant.

She helped me get my driving license back.

- I lost my license for four years. - What did you do?

Driving under the influence. They got me at the border.

They opened the door and out fell two vodka bottles.

- Seriously? - There were five of us.

They got me out and did a blood test right there.

Shit.

She helped me out when I fell out with my mum.

I didn't get on with her boyfriend, so she chucked me out of the house.

So I had nowhere to live.

And she sorted me out with a flat.

It's right here in Jänickendorf.

A one-room flat.

I'd never have found anything so fast without her help.

- You can do it too, if you like. - I get it from my dad.

- It's really bad. - Hey, it could be worse.

Back to it, lads.

- Hey... - Are you ready?

- That way? - Go right a bit.

That's it.

- It's in. - Now put those two tubes into...

Yes, those two. Stick them in there.

One in there.

Just push it in?

- Come on! Before it gets to us. - What?

Before it reaches the tractor.

So, let's go.

- I'm going to stay here a bit. - Why?

- Don't know. I like it here. - You want to stay here?

All right. I'm off.

- See you in a bit. - I'm going back.

Excuse me, do you know where Mrs Butsch is?

- Mrs Butsch is in the events room. - Thanks.

Here it tells you how to write one.

And your reports so far just haven't made the grade.

They'd just about get you accepted for the prelims.

- Hello... - Jakob?

- I can come back later. - No, come in.

Marco's having trouble writing a report.

- You'll have to do it as well. - What?

Write reports.

Everyone has to write them.

If you think school's out as an intern or a trainee, you'll be disappointed.

Marco, could you give him some paper so he can have a go?

Sit yourself down.

- Don't get worked up so easily. - It's not much, is it?

No, for example, you were at the carrot processing plant.

So you could describe the work flow at the plant in your report.

Writing a report is not that different from writing an essay at school.

And you should do the same with the topic of tillage.

Your report should focus on tillage

to show that you understand the steps involved in the tilling process.

Why do I have to write about it? I've clone it five times already.

Exactly, that's why...

No one will read it, so why should I write it?

I'll read it to check you understood everything.

And at the end you'll understand it better.

But I won't read it.

And you have to write reports to be accepted for your final exam.

- Shall I give you a hand? - No.

Imagine you go into a bank and they all say,

"That stupid farmer can't even write."

That's how it is.

Say they give you a document and you can't even understand it.

Now let's finish off that sentence.

I won't do it. No! I won't do it.

Now the paper's all... Come now.

- Now take a piece of paper. - This is stupid!

Hi.

Man, you've got heavy.

I get it.

- I get it. - Thought so.

Stop.

Come here.

Hold it.

Hey.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

- Can I get in? - Sure.

Does it run?

No idea.

Okay.

Stop it.

I'd love to drive somewhere.

To Poland or Berlin.

- What would you do in Poland? - I don't know.

See something new.

I'd rather go to Berlin.

It's so expensive though.

Everything all right?

Are you messing with me?

What's the matter'?

- Morning. - Morning.

- Morning. - Morning.

- Morning. - Morning.

- Morning. - Morning.

- Morning. - Dressed a bit lightly, aren't you?

So, how's it going? Enjoying the work?

- Yeah, of course. - Hard work though, isn't it?

- The early starts are. - Shoveling sand and that.

Nah, it's okay.

- Everything else okay? - Yes.

- Getting on with the other apprentices? - Yeah, really well.

Okay.

Let's make a start then.

Jakob's going with you.

- Where's Marco? - No idea.

Jakob?

Jakob?

What are you doing here?

I was waiting for you. Where were you?

I had my exam today.

Where are you off to in the cal'?

I just wanted to drive somewhere.

Where to?

I don't know. Wherever we like.

Two beers, please. Thanks.

I don't drink alcohol.

What?

Why not, then?

What are you doing?

It looks stupid.

Don't give me that look!

What's that? Something off the menu.

Great!

To freedom!

- Do you think you passed the exam? - No idea. Don't think so.

And what if you have?

I'm a fully qualified farmer.

Will you stay there?

Where else would I go?

- I don't know. To Berlin? - Never.

My dad ran off to Berlin.

I haven't seen him since.

And do you like it?

- What? - The internship.

It's more exciting than I expected.

- You're drunk. - I'm not. You are!

I haven't drunk as much as you.

I haven't drunk a thing.

Watch it! You're about to trip up!

Come here, you.

Hang on.

Let's go on a bit.

You're drunk.

Have we got any smokes left?

How will you get home?

Don't know. I'll walk.

It was fun.

Take care.

Jakob. Where were you?

- Morning. And? - At home.

But look at the time. You're late!

- Where were you yesterday? - I was ill.

- You have to let us know, first thing. - I know.

You have to ring us. Get to work then.

- Hang on. Have you seen Marco? - No. Why?

I haven't seen Marco today either. I've no idea where he's got to.

He passed his exam. Let him know if you see him, okay?

- Good. Bye. - Bye.