Watch The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Duddy Kravitz has grown up in a poor area of Montreal Cananda. His father is a cab driver and his Uncle Benjy is rich. Uncle Benjy is putting Lenny, Duddy's brother through school. The only one in the family that takes an interest in Duddy is his grandfather. While working a summer job at a jewish resort hotel, Duddys brash attitude rubs a college student and fellow waiter, Irwin the wrong way. To get even with Duddy, Irwin sets up a crooked roulette game, stripping Duddy of the three hundred dollars he has saved up from his job. The other waiters gang up on Irwin and makes him give the money back, but another guest unknowingly gives Duddy another five hundred dollars.

Duddy starts a relationship with a hotel employee, Yvette. Yvette and Duddy go on a picnic beside a lake and Duddy is smitten with the scenery. He remembers what his grandfather always said that a man without land is a nobody. He makes a decision to buy up all the property around the lake and develop it. He hires a washed up american director to film weddings and bar mitzvahs. This venture turns out to be a success.

As time goes on he gets deeper into the seedy underworld to borrow, pimp or smuggle drugs to get the capital for the land. He becomes so wrapped up into buying the properties, that he leaves his friends by the wayside. Through it all, Yvette stays with him, but fears that he is heading down the path to self destruction.

The film explores Duddy's motivation and whether the risky ventures will result in him buying up all the property. He has put at risk, his girlfriend, his family and his own reputation. He may lose the respect of his family and community. Duddy wonders if he will find true happiness and fulfillment in the end.