Mandragora

Don't buy this thinking it will will be "erotic" or "sexy". The film goes for gritty realism, and you hardly see any of the sex that goes on in the film. There's also occasional violence that gets rather bloody...not for the squeamish, but an intense, moving film.


Disturbingly real   June 7, 2000
Graeme (New Zealand)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you have seen Wiktor Grodecki's 2 documentories on the rent boys of Prague "Not Angels But Angels" and "Body Without Soul" you will see many of their stories merged together in this riviting drama of one boys life on the mean streets and what he has to do to survive. Some of the real life working boys also appear in this film to add another dimention of authenticity.


what a disappointment ...   October 9, 2001
Dr. Wolfgang Renner (Muenchen)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful

The film was badly made and poorly acted. The story, while sad, was completely irrealistic, the depiction of the characters superficial and far from any reality as well, the dialogues trivial if not stupid. This is not a film I can recommend to an educated audience which is used to a certain intellectual standard. It's - to use one "mean" word - East Bloc.

What made things worse is that I could at no moment relate to the main character: He is not a poor little boy who is drawn into the hustler/porn scene by circumstances. He is a stubborn youngster who runs away from a loving home and from school, who actively looks for the hustler scene, but who is not intelligent enough to survive- first he has the old pimp (whatever his name is, Monza or something like that) take advantage of him, then another hustler.

The film bores you, it is not drastic or realistic or strong at all (like I hoped it would be). Honestly, I watched the last hour or so in fast forward mode.


incredibly sad!   March 20, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Anyone who thinks prostitutes and pornography are simply entertainment will think again. This cast of mostly non-actors captivated me and gave a glimpse into those smiling faces of porn. I kept waiting for the happy scene that never came, but was ultimately gald that it didn't - no Hollywood endings here. Powerful and sad, but has moved this viewer to re-examine my beliefs.