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David is a film about a young Jewish boy coming of age in Nazi Germany. The film begins in pre-war Germany where rampant antisemitism makes life difficult for young David, a shy Jewish boy, and continues through the family's capture. David is growing up in Leignitz, Germany. His family is a simple, middle-class Jewish family. His father is especially proud of his Jewish heritage. The film shows several scenes where the family is gathered together to eat, pray, and celebrate important holidays in the Jewish liturgical year. However, at school, David's Jewishness makes him a target for vicious bullying and relentless attacks. A large gang of German schoolchildren, his peers, gang up on him and pummel him to the ground. Then they kick and punch him while shouting "Jew pig."

The film shows David's family attempt to adapt the increasingly vicious attacks on Jews. When the Nazis force the Jews to sew yellow stars on to their lapels, David's father says that the entire family must be proud to be Jews, walk with a straight back, and not yield to anyone who attempts to humiliate them. Although the father tries to make sure life proceeds as normal, it is clear that the atmosphere is becoming more and more unsafe and that they will soon need to leave their hometown in Germany.

In another scene, David and his family is celebrating Purim. This holiday commemorates the saving of the Jews in exile in ancient Persia. As the Purim rituals proceed, a large gang of German teenagers and soldiers are marching through the streets, shouting antisemitic slogans. The children become scared during the Purim service and do not want to go outside. The rabbi listens to what the Germans are screaming and hears, "Jews out! Jews out!" But he does not want to worry the children, so he says they are yelling, "Youth out! Youth out!" Later, David's family watches as the Germans set the synagogue ablaze.