Ein Mädchen von 16 1/2

Ein Mädchen von 16 ½

In post-war years, the young orphan Helga is raised by her aunt. When she turns sixteen, she leaves her to cut her own path. At night, Helga roams the streets of Berlin and has fleeting acquaintances with several boys, among them the upright Rolf and the greasy Egon. Eventually, her odyssey comes to an end in a youth detention center where she reunites with Rolf who has cast an eye on her. Helga’s heart, however, is still set on Egon. She escapes from the youth center and starts searching for him. When she finally finds Egon in a bar, he turns out to be a completely broken and mental wreck who wants her to walk the streets in order to bring in some money. At last, Helga realizes that he is the wrong guy for her and that she no longer wants to be a part of his life. Instead, she returns to the youth center where Rolf is waiting for her.