BLUTSFREUNDSCHAFT/ INITIATION
Austria, 2009, 95 minutes, Colour.
Helmut Berger, Harry Lampl, Melanie Kretchman.
Directed by Peter Kern.
This is an Austrian film which reflects Austrian society at the end of the 20th century, the beginning of the 21st century, especially the move to the right, the prevalence of neo-Nazi groups. The groups are shown as skinheads, violent, loud, homophobic but homoerotic in their behaviour, generally young but the presentation of the leader is an older man with political ambitions.
There is also the story of Gustav, played by Helmut Berger, who became a star in the 1960s and 1970s in films by looking at Visconti, especially The Damned and Ludwig. Here he plays an elderly gay man who runs a dry-cleaning shop in Vienna, attends a gay club where Jacob/Christina presides and is intending to go to Casablanca for an operation, supported by the regulars at the bar and financially by Gustav.
The other principal character is a young man, from a disadvantaged family who teams up with the neo-Nazis, Axel. He goes through initiation rites, including being cut, having to have sex with the neo-Nazi girl follower, and actually stabs a stall proprietor to death in the streets when the neo-Nazis are stirring up trouble. He takes refuge with Gustav who becomes attracted towards him, tries to help him.
There is also the flashbacks to Austria during World War II, to the Hitler youth, Gustav as a Hitler youth and his friend Hannes with whom he is in love. They are taunted, Hannes kills the critic and is arrested, tortured, taken to a camp – and, as he is driven way to execution, Gustav follows him but is shot in the leg, the physical wound but also a psychological wound that he bears throughout his life.
At the end, there are posters denouncing him as a paedophile and he decides to end his life, Axel coming to rescue him and, consoling him, but he dies.
There is a very telling sequence at the end, hopeful one supposes, where the neo-Nazis arrive in the street and are confronted by a silent group of the people that they generally target – and they back down.
1. An Austrian story, Austria’s past, World War II and the Nazi era? An examination of conscience?
2. The Vienna settings, in the 20th century, 21st-century? Streets, homes, shops, bars? City life? The musical score?
3. The title of the tone? Axel’s experience?
4. The screenplay and several stories interwoven?
5. The neo-Nazi framework, the group, the skinheads, gathering together, the look, the clothes? The leader and his speeches? Political campaigns? The targets, Jews, homosexuals? Yet the behaviour of the men themselves, physical contact, fooling around? The advisor – and his being at the club surrounded by the gay men?
6. The neo-Nazis in action, demonstrations, rents, the club, behaviour, the girl and her sexual behaviour, their forcing Axel to have sex with her, her helping him? The attack at the public stall, the death of the proprietor? Their bravado and ethos? Confronting the group at the end, the girl moving to stand with their targets, their walking away?
7. Gustav, his shop, dry-cleaning, his home, comfortable, his possessions? His life, living alone? His customers? His friendship with Jacob/Christine? Confiding, chatting, her dresses, like the club, preparing for the operation, supplying the money? The plane, the ticket? The return? Giving Axel a chance, welcoming, in the house, the physical attraction? Getting him the suit, complaining about how he had treated the suit? Axel staying, going to the club, his contact with the neo-Nazis, his family background, kinship with the group? The group daring him, his stabbing the proprietor? His reaction? Hiding with Gustav? The initiations, cutting him, the sexual encounter? This change of attitude, the posters against Gustav, hurrying to him, lifting him down from his noose? Saving him, lying with him, consoling him, Gustav’s death?
8. Gustav and his past, the Hitler youth, his relationship with Hannes, the bond, the other youth member, denouncing them, the clash, Hannes stabbing him? The arrest, the interrogations, the torture with the fingernails? The prison camp? The threats to staff, the commander and his attraction and offer of help? The taunts, Gustav chasing the lorry, his being shot in the leg? Showing Axel the wound? The effect on him and his life?
9. Christina, at the club, in command, entertainment, the regular clients and their behaviour? The plan for the operation, going to Casablanca, earnestness, going to the airport, being held at the passport control, male/female, the success of the operation, her return?
10. Club, the entertainment, the gay atmosphere?
11. The buildup to the climax, the neo-Nazis, the death of Gustav, the demonstration in the street – and the group of poor, gays, multi-ethnics and the backing down of the neo-Nazis?
