Das Wilde Leben is based on the story of Uschi Obermaier, an ex-model and Germany’s first groupie. Just when Uschi (Natalia Avelon) finds herself becoming increasingly bored with her country life in a Munich suburb, she is suddenly discovered by the photographer of Twen magazine. Her mother finds the raunchy pictures and tries to talk Uschi out of such “schmarrn” (crap). This term was originally employed to describe sweet Bavarian and Austrian baked goods, like the Kaiserschmarrn, made up of chopped pancakes. Used alone, “schmarrn” means “nonsense.”
"After a stint with what the press described as 'lang harigen' (the long-haired ones, i.e. hippies), she is invited to join the Rolling Stones on tour in London, enjoying a life of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll."
Uschi’s parents do not understand her lifestyle nor all the “glump” (unnecessary and useless stuff) she treasures so dearly. “Glump” can also be written as “glumpad”, in order to describe a scruffy or even drunk-looking person: “Was lafstn du so glumpad umanand?” (Why do you walk around so scruffily?) The origins of this word are uncertain, but it is plausible that it comes from “lumpen” (rags), which describes useless old rags or someone dressed in them.
After a stint with what the press described as “lang harigen” (the long-haired ones, i.e. hippies), she is invited to join the Rolling Stones on tour in London. Enjoying a life of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, she goes back and forth between Keith Richards (Alexander Scheer) and Mick Jagger (Víctor Noren). But she eventually finds herself bored with the touring agenda, which mostly consists of being locked up in a hotel, watching the band members zone out on heroin. Uschi wants adventure.
She goes back to an old boyfriend, Dieter Bockhorn (David Scheller). He is truly taken with her and builds a beautiful bus for both of them to travel the world. Bockhorn, known as the “Prinz von Kiez” (or “The Prince of Kiez,” a large residential area), prides himself in showing Uschi off to his friends and acquaintances. A client at Bockhorn’s legendary Galerie-Café Adler once went so far as to claim Uschi was “die geilste sau” (the hottest girl) in all Bavaria. “Geilste sau” literally translates as “the horniest swine,” which doesn’t exactly sound like a compliment. But in Germany, “geil” (horny) is a common word for “cool,” “awesome,” or “hot.” If a Bavarian calls a woman a “geile sau”, she should be flattered!
Some issues arise between Uschi and Bockhorn regarding their relationship. Uschi tries to be independent and cheeky, often provoking him by flirting with other men, while Bockhorn is often too controlling. Their bickering sometimes ends with one of them yelling at the other to shut his or her “goschn” (trap). After following the hippy trail for several months (a rite of passage for many youngsters in the 70s, extending from Europe to southern Asia), they end up in Mexico, where they promptly run into Keith Richards. Uschi finds herself drawn to him all over again, and when Bockhorn makes a scene, she tells him to go “dahin wo der pfeffer wӓchst” (where the pepper grows). This expression dates back to the discovery of sea routes to India, which opened up the spice trade for products like pepper. If a person is tired of someone’s unpleasantness, he or she will ask that someone to “go where the pepper grows,” that is, to the other side of the world. The film ends on a sad and reflective note, but when Uschi asks herself whether she would have done anything differently, her answer is clear: “Nein” (No).
