MY FATHER IS COMING

Germany, 1991, 81 minutes, Colour.
Alfred Edel, Shelley Kastner, Annie Sprinkle.
Directed by Monika Treut,

My Father is Coming was directed by independent German film-maker, Monika Treut. Like many Germans on the fringe of the industry, she is fascinated by New York, subgroups, especially of homosexual preference. Her picture is of German migrants in New York, Vicki the heroine and her relationship with her father who visits, wanting to be an actress, her lesbian relationships.

Sexologist and performer Annie Sprinkle (Sacred Sex) also appears - much more genially than she did in Sacred Sex.

The film is small-budget, but has a particular perspective of sympathy with the struggles of people on the fringe, people in the entertainment world - especially with a focus on sexuality, performance, pornography.

1.The work of Monika Treut? German perspective? View of the United States and New York? Relationships, homosexuality? Permissiveness, pornography? Sexual liberation?

2.New York locations, Greenwich Village, apartments, restaurants and kitchens, studios and auditions, the streets? The musical score?

3.The title and its focus on Hans, his relationship with Vicki and her response to her father?

4.The perspective on fringe groups, their place in New York society? Show business? The fringes of show business? Sexual identity, transsexuals? Homosexual relationships? Family?

5.Vicki, the migrant in New York? Her German background? The auditions, her hopes? At work in the restaurant, her friend in the kitchen, waiting at tables? Her flatting with Ben, his homosexuality, the appearance of marriage for her father's sake? Her friends in Greenwich Village? Her father's arrival, his criticisms? Going to the audition, trained by Annie Sprinkle? Her father's reaction? The friendship with Joe, the outings, the discussions? Her response to his sex change? Seeing the television interview? Vicki and her friend at the restaurant, their relationship? Her father's discovery of it? Her relationship with Ben? Her future in New York?

6.Hans, the German teacher, arrival in New York, his Germanic attitudes? The criticisms of the holocaust and the interrogation in the studio? His criticisms of Vicki, going to the audition, meeting Annie Sprinkle, friendship with her, courtship? His being invited to go on American television? His reaction to discovering his daughter's lesbian relationship? Commentary on Ben? His return to Germany? The experience of New York?

7.Annie Sprinkle, professional sexologist and performer? Her performance, wanting to free people sexually? The encounter with Hans, the friendship with Vicki? Her hopes to perform in Germany?

8.Ben, homosexual, his relationships, the party? Moving out from Vicki?

9.Joe, friendship, male-female relationships, the story of his operation, the interview on television? The continued friendship with Vicki?

10.The fringe world of New York society? The particular sub groupings in the city?