Since the 1960s, West Berlin’s most important transportation center — Bahnhof Zoo train station — served a second, lesser-known function as a meeting place for hordes of male prostitutes from all over Eastern Europe. Now, filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim profiles the personal and historic impact of the hustler culture that emerged at Bahnhof Zoo by turning his lens on five grown men who spent their youths as rent hoys at the station. Each of the subjects’ stories reveals the expected obstacles — abuse, drug addiction and poverty — but the men also display a surprising tenderness and determination to move on. At the same time, each man must cope with the emotional and physical consequences of their past decisions.
Rent Boys is a frank and sympathetic chronicle of the historic causes and lasting effects of Berlin’s hustler trade. By capturing a broad array of voices – from former rent boys and clients, to the counselors and public servants who offer them treatment – von Praunheim creates an engrossing historic survey from the intimate stories of those whose lives intersected at Bahnhof Zoo.
This film delivers an inside look at what it is like to be a street hustler... incase you've ever thought about being one... or hiring one.
Rosa von Praunheim is a veteran gay filmmaker and activist who has created over 50 underground features in his career. Most of his work is not available in the United States... but this movie is!
Rosa von Praunheim gives us a look at male prostitution in this new film coming from Breaking Glass Pictures. Zoo Station in Berlin is one of the places where hustlers ply trade and sell their bodies. The train station is somewhat depressing and we get a look at it by boys who once worked there. The director looks at the boys after they are past their prime and we learn about hustlers who are no longer the age that most look for. We hear how it is for them now and how it was when they were the cream of the crop. We learn that the seductive allure of sex workers is a bit of a myth. We see that the majority of male prostitutes were victims of sexual, emotional and physical abuse. They protect their bodies after having survived some very rough times. One of the guys was tortured at home while another had trouble when he lived in a children’s home.
The most shocking thing here is learning that not one of the boys has been able to leave the scene behind them and drug addiction and crime is part of the lives of many. AIDS is also a problem. The reality of the street is not very pretty.
