The Toilers and the Wayfarers

Dieter runs away because the kiss triggers confusion and disgust in him. As a teenager growing up in a conservative small town where same-sex relationships are heavily stigmatized, Dieter has internalized the community's puritanical attitudes. He hasn't yet come to terms with his own feelings, and the sudden, unexpected kiss forces him to confront emotions he's not ready to accept. This reaction sends Phillip away, heartbroken, and sets up the emotional tension that drives much of the story.

The film's opening establishes the oppressive atmosphere of Dieter's hometown, where even innocent expressions of affection feel dangerous.

Dieter's parents view Udo as a bad influence because he is lazy, carefree, and doesn't adhere to the family's conservative values. More importantly, they perceive an inappropriate closeness between the two young men. Dieter's father specifically intervenes when Udo inherits money and wants to take Dieter on a trip, administering a stern punishment and banning contact. This reaction stems from both Udo's questionable character and the parents' fear of their son straying from conventional paths.

The early scenes establish Dieter's parents as protective to the point of control, setting up the family conflict that escalates.

After Aunt Anna dies and leaves Udo money, Udo buys a stolen car with plans to take Dieter on a road trip. Dieter's father forbids this and punishes Dieter, but Dieter chooses to hide at Udo's house instead of complying with his family. The two then set out toward the big city, seeking independence and escape from the constraints of their small town. Their journey is fraught from the start, police notice their car, forcing them to abandon it and continue on foot.

This decision marks Dieter's definitive break from his conventional family life and his first step toward self-discovery.

Phillip turned to sex work because he needs to survive in the expensive city environment without family support or stable employment. When Dieter reunites with him, Phillip explains this matter-of-factly, suggesting he's accepted it as a pragmatic necessity rather than an ideal situation. He even suggests Dieter could do the same if he stays, highlighting the harsh economic reality facing young people without documentation, family connections, or legitimate job opportunities in the city.

Phillip's willingness to share this detail shows how city life has forced him to compromise his dignity for survival.

When Phillip falls ill, Dieter ventures onto the streets to earn money and eventually attracts the attention of a plainclothes officer who offers money for services then arrests him. Dieter is thrust into legal jeopardy. A police lieutenant contacts his parents, but they refuse to take him home, showing their continued rejection despite his situation. Facing the threat of juvenile prison, Dieter uses his one phone call to warn Udo to flee the city before police locate his address. The mechanic and his wife provide shelter for Udo, while Dieter manages to evade capture.

The arrest represents a turning point where Dieter's choices directly impact both himself and those closest to him.

Dieter leaves Phillip, who remains ill, to board a train toward New York. This decision reflects his ongoing struggle between seeking his own survival and maintaining relationships. Throughout the story, Dieter has been chasing independence and possibility, and New York represents another chance at a fresh start. However, the choice also demonstrates his inability to fully commit to staying and supporting Phillip, leaving their relationship's future uncertain.

This mirrors earlier patterns in the film where Dieter runs from difficult emotional situations rather than facing them.

The mechanic is a German-speaking man in the city who offers help when their second car breaks down. He takes an immediate liking to the boys, likely seeing something of his own immigrant experience in them. His backstory, he speaks German despite past restrictions and has no children of his own, adds depth to his character and explains his sympathetic decision to assist stranded youths. He becomes a recurring supportive figure, later providing shelter for Udo when Dieter warns him to flee the city.

The mechanic serves as a symbol of the human kindness that exists amid otherwise hostile or indifferent surroundings.

While waiting for his train to New York, Dieter encounters a stranger who advises him to return to his homeland. This encounter adds ambiguity to Dieter's future, suggesting that perhaps running toward a new place isn't the answer. The stranger's recommendation implies that Dieter's search for belonging might be better served by returning to his German roots rather than continuing to flee through American cities.

This final encounter foreshadows that Dieter's journey is far from over and that his identity as a German immigrant remains central to his story.

Dieter unexpectedly finds Phillip in a city café. The reunion is charged with old warmth and unresolved feelings between them. Phillip shows Dieter the perks of urban freedom, introducing him to city life. As they spend time together, Dieter confronts his own feelings for Phillip and accepts them more fully than he did during their childhood. Their relationship rekindles, leading to intimate moments despite the harsh circumstances surrounding them.

This reunion represents a pivotal moment where Dieter finally allows himself to embrace his feelings rather than flee from them.

When police contact Dieter's parents after his arrest, they refuse to take him home. This refusal demonstrates the depth of their rejection toward Dieter, possibly due to his defiance of their rules, his association with Udo, and their inability to accept who he is becoming. Their choice leaves Dieter with no family support system, forcing him to rely entirely on his street smarts and the help of others like the mechanic.

This rejection underscores the central theme of the film: the pain of not belonging, even within one's own family.