Anita is a young, Jewish, East German refugee. Without a job or a home, she gets caught stealing and lands in prison. Upon her release, she finds she remains an awkward newcomer. Though her probation officer tries to help, she can′t hold down a job or maintain interest in university. She winds up as mistress to a government official, but when she is pregnant, the relationship abruptly ends. Anita wanders from place to place trying to fit in. Not only is she Jewish, she′s an East German in West Germany. No matter how she searches, she is unable to find her place - until she surrenders to the police. Prison may be her only true home. Alexander Kluge′s criticisms are not made simply. The wanderer - as well as pathological liardreamk and compulsive thief - that Anita is makes her far from heroic or tragic. However, she is not a fool nor does she wallow in self-pity at her situation. Stylistically challenging, the multiple award winning Yesterday Girl launched Kluge onto the international stage as a major figure of New German Cinema.