Taxi zum Klo

A film from the seventies, released in 1980, Taxi Zum Klo tells the story of a life divided by society and standards into two different parts, respectability by day and licentious indecency by night. An autobiographic account from Frank Ripploh who by day was the respectable and liked schoolteacher yet by night a hedonistic, sex seeking, public toilet inhabiting cruiser. The bulk of the story is taken with Frank's need and desire to hunt for the latest sexual conquest and encounters in risky and unsavoury places. He meets and falls for a theatre manager and they move in together, could this be the end of his hunting for sex in the underbelly of the very edge of Berlin society? Another question raises itself, does he manage to keep his seedy sex life out of the classroom, even if he does from time to time he has been known to mark students work in the public lavatories he inhabits hunting for his next slice of cock?

There was a lot of outrage surrounding this film at the time of its release, not least the refusal by many film censors to even allow it to be shown. Read more and find out where this film made it in the Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time book, search on Amazon for Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time.

I guess it doesn't hurt, 'tho. 'Taxi Zum Klo' is an unflinching tale of a Berlin school teacher (played by the film's writer/director,Frank Ripploh)who lives a highly promiscuous life of (gay)sex,drugs,but no rock & roll,however. I admired the film's honesty & bravado in depicting the central protagonist as an irresponsible,immature person, who has no problem cheating on his lovers. I actually felt a wave of sadness when his live in lover finds Ripploh cheating on him behind his back. This film has a kitchen sink,do it yourself look to it that I admired (it was filmed in 16mm & blown up to 35mm). Be warned:Although this film currently carries no MPAA rating,this is a VERY sexually graphic & explicit film that doesn't flinch in it's depiction of gay sexuality (it landed a self contained 'X' rating,when originally released in the U.S.),so only the most open minded of audiences should approach this one

I just watched the DVD of Taxi Zum Klo, some 25+ years after seeing the original in first release. I had forgotten how graphic and explicit the movie is. I almost wonder if the version I first saw (in the U.S.) was released intact. I didn't remember gay sex scenes clearly showing b/j's and penetration. Maybe I blocked them out.

The overall quality of the DVD is lacking. It's definitely a transfer from video, fuzzy and jumpy. The dim, white subtitles are an exercise in frustration. This groundbreaking film deserves better. I wonder if Criterion would have the balls to tackle it?

It's a good movie, clearly autobiographical. The story is a gay relationship in late 1970s Berlin. The main character, a teacher, struggles to reconcile his political conviction of sexual liberty and promiscuity with the more traditional lifestyle of his lover.

The style of the film is Cassavetes-like. We get the sense that the director--who is also the lead actor-- used his friends and lovers from "true life" to act along with him. Transitions are abrupt, and not always logical. The cinematography is literal and conventional, if not downright crude, but somehow it still manages to yield a couple of shots that are beautiful. The ending feels hurried and unfinished. And it's hard to escape the suspicion that the explicit sex is used primarily for shock value.

Nevertheless, this is an important film in gay cinema and one that anyone interested in the genre's development and history should see. The story line is the essential, if now stereotypical, dilemma of the modern gay male: do we emulate hetero straight values, or invent a new socio-political lifestyle for ourselves? It is a theme repeated in countless other gay films, but never as directly or as raw as it was here, just as a gay cinema was beginning.

I'd wanted to see this movie for years...a friend had recommended it highly as a comedy, as a gay classic, had made it sound like a farce...so finally I got hold of a copy and...

Described as an "erotic comedy" on the DVD cover? Whoever wrote that needs their head examining. Or maybe the comedy got lost in translation? It is not funny. Not funny in the slightest. Not unless you rofl over people wiping their bum on the guest towel in the bathroom for want of toilet paper...and, surprisingly, I don't!

Frank is a sex addict and bargain bin Al Parker wannabee who treats us all to a slice of his sad, tawdry life. He bonks his way through a series of clones who, on this outing, appear to be unduly influenced by the likes of porno classic Kansas City Trucking Company --but not just the cast, no, the production values as a whole are equally as cheap and dreary.

Cost a mere 100,000DMs to make? The money would have been better spent on therapy off camera for the lead actor/writer/director.

Distasteful and distressing. Watch it by all means. But a comedy it is not. A tragedy if you ask me. But when you are expecting one thing and get another it is never good.

I loved this movie. I found myself glued to it. The leading role is autobiographical and written and directed by Frank Ripploh. Sort of a documentary approach of the life of Frank as a charming schoolteacher by day and a sex driven zany rascal of a guy by night. He's something else. There are very explicit sex scenes that certainly were not repulsed by the actors. Bravo for that. And Mr. Ripploh dosen't have any shortcomings where it counts. We are aware from the start just what we're in for with this movie. I understand it caused much controversy in the 80s when it first came out. I guess because of the sex scenes. But, that's Frank. He's honest. I liked the guy Bernd Broderup who played his lover. At first a pick up, then a live in partner. He had some nice scenes, notably the ice skating scene where they dance together on the pond. And then there's the gas station attendant who finally gets our hero in such a graphic sex scene, I was dumbfounded. But you have to see for yourself what I mean. Go rent this VHS. It's quite an experience. One that stays with you.