Mandragora - Pretty Boys of
Prague All Fall Down
by Tallulah Givehead
Mandragora,
a film directed by Wiktor Gorecki, is a sad,
viscous, and
 heavy-handed
film of familiar (if stereotypical) themes -
prostitution, drugs, self-loathing and the saddest
theme of all - gay people (in this case boys) are a
miserable lot doomed to a life of misery and death.
Now ... Ta has been around the block a time or two
and has managed to experience in one way or t'other
these themes and has managed to still be extremely
FABULOUS (Though, ah ayum not quite as
fabulous as the wonderful
Lady Bunny.)
Wiktor Gorecki condemns the lifestyle and wallows in
obvious sexual fascination in this drama that
recounts sixteen-year-old Marek's (Mirek Caslavka)
tragic descent into prostitution, violence and drugs
after he leaves his dreary small-town life for the
beautiful but treacherous streets of Prague. Marek
and his handsome streetwise buddy David decide to go
into the teen flesh trade themselves. But kinky
johns, all-too-available drugs and their own
self-destructive natures propel them instead into a
hellish world that offers no return.
Late into the film, Marek's father starts making
periodic appearances in a weak sub-plot about
searching for his son. His character is mostly a
device to keep this slow moving film ... well,
moving and provide a few gasps from close calls.
While some might be turned off by the
inconsistencies of the script Ah believe Gorecki's
intent is to enforce the confusion Marek feels as he
spins out of control.
If y'all are interested in a slow-paced dramatic
film that is certainly NOT a date movie
Mandragora is the film for you.
Gorecki's two earlier films - both documentaries
exploring the world of teen prostitution in Prague
are
"Not Angels But Angels" and
"Body Without Soul."
Tallulah Givehead is
a Fabulous drag queen living in Portland, Oregon
(Lord only knows why!) writing reviews of gay film
by day and tearing up the stage by night. You
can read her reviews here as well as at her blog,
QUEER VUE MIRROR.
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