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Taxi zum Klo

Directed by Frank Ripploh1980West Germany98 mins

Frank Ripploh’s groundbreaking autobiographical debut offers a vivid, uncompromising portrait of queer life in West Berlin at the dawn of the 1980s.

By day, Frank is a dedicated schoolteacher. By night, he embraces the sexual freedoms of the city’s underground scene — navigating a double life in public restrooms, cinemas, and cruising spots. When he meets Bernd, a sweet and steady museum worker, Frank finds himself torn between the comfort of domestic partnership and the allure of anonymous desire. ​ Unapologetically explicit and deeply personal, Taxi zum Klo shattered taboos upon its release and remains a landmark of queer cinema. Shot with unfiltered candor and infused with a distinctively wry humor, Ripploh’s film continues to resonate for its fearless exploration of identity, intimacy, and freedom.

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Director
Frank Ripploh
Year
1980
Country
West Germany
Running Time
98 mins
Language
German, English, & French
Program Note Writer
Altered Innocence