The Emperor's New Clothes

The Emperor's New Clothes 1994

6.00

The Emperor of a European country demands new clothes to wear every day, in fact sometimes several times a day. He imposes a heavy tax on the poor citizens to pay for his vanity. An itinerant man and boy come to the capital city and see the injustice, and make friends, but they soon have to flee. They return disguised as Arab tailors, and offer to make the Emperor a new suit of clothes. But only the wise will be able to see it; fools, or those unfit for their public office, will not see anything. The Emperor orders the suit made, and much money is needed to purchase the raw materials. Eventually the suit is ready, and the Emperor and his officials pretend that they can see a wonderful outfit; will anyone prick the bubble of the illusion?

1994

Not Angels But Angels

Not Angels But Angels 1994

6.00

Interviews with a procurer and with nineteen boys and young men who are prostitutes in Prague. The youths range in age from 14 to 19. They hustle at the central train station and at clubs. Most of their clients are foreign tourists, many are German. The youths talk about why they hustle, their first trick, prices, dangers, what they know about AIDS, their fears (disease and loneliness), and how they imagine their futures. The film's title, its liturgical score, much of it elegiac, and shots of the city's statues of angels underline the vulnerability and callow lack of sophistication of the young men.

1994

It's Better to Be Healthy and Wealthy than Poor and Sick

It's Better to Be Healthy and Wealthy than Poor and Sick 1992

5.30

A satiric tragi-comedy about two women and their lover Robert who is an emigrant that keeps coming back. This film shows chaotic post-communist Europe after the fall of totalitarianism. Two opposite characters, women, meet during the Velvet Revolution in November 1989. Intellectual dissident Nona and a Communist secret police boss’ mistress Ester. They meet at an anti-regime demonstration and become friends. They don’t want anything to do with politics, both want to get married and have kids, but also get rich. Crazy plans and risky attempts to realize their shared dreams land them in many sticky situations in the post-revolution chaos. Too much money gets in the way of the power of friendship.

1992

Body Without Soul

Body Without Soul 1996

6.68

Documentary look at doomed male prostitutes in Prague, ages 15 to 18, who troll at the public swimming pool, the train station, a video arcade, and a disco. After the boys talk about how they got in the game, the camera follows them to the home of Pavel Rousek. Under the name Hans Miller, he makes gay porno videos, primarily for German distribution. Intercut with a movie shoot chez Rousek is an interview that follows him to his day job at a morgue, where he performs an autopsy as he talks about his work. The sex is without protection; the boys are without family. They talk about their bodies and souls, money, their sexual orientation, AIDS, their dreams, and death.

1996

Shadow of a Kiss

Shadow of a Kiss 1995

1

Albert is a distinguished art dealer living in New York City. One day by chance, he visits a photo exhibit titled "Bistrot de Paris" by Carol Labronsky. In an old photo of two young lovers kissing while seated at a Bistro, Albert recognizes his first love, Rose, the girl he fell madly in love with during his stay in Paris in 1959, and had disappeared after leaving him. In that photograph Rose is wearing a sweater which Albert gave her, proof that the photo was taken after she had met him. Tormented by memories, AIbert feels a burning need to find out whet became of her.

1995

Five for Revenge

Five for Revenge 1966

4.50

Jim Latimore's ranch is a thorn in the side of the ruthless Gonzales brothers and his marriage to their cousin Rosaria rankles even more. Bandit chief El Matanza is hired to rid them of Latimore and his baby son is taken to be raised as a Gonzales. Three years later five of Latimore's friends arrive to reclaim the boy, replace Rosaria in her home and avenge their murdered compadre.

1966