Das Ende der Unschuld (1991)

Das Ende der Unschuld: Directed by Gus Van Sant. With River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert. Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.

“This movie isnu0026#39;t about being, or even about being a hustler. u0026quot;My Own Private Idahou0026quot; is about finding a home. In his finest performance, River Phoenix plays Mike, a narcoleptic street hustler with false memories of a terrific childhood. Mike wants to find his mother and family, but how or why he left them is never discussed. This is a movie that shows life at the lowest rung, and is very similar to Kerouacu0026#39;s u0026quot;On the Roadu0026quot; and especially John Rechyu0026#39;s u0026quot;City of Night.u0026quot; (In fact the line about becoming a fairy is straight from u0026quot;City of Nightu0026quot;). Mike and Scott (Keanu Reeves) are both male prostitutes in Oregon. Why either of them have drifted into this profession is anyoneu0026#39;s guess. Scott is clearly not gay, but Mike might be and their relationship is what holds the movie together. The film works on many levels, but does have its flaws. Itu0026#39;s faux-Shakespearen scenes make the film drag in the middle. Van Sant directed the movie like a dream, which is what Mikeu0026#39;s life basically is.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a haunting and very sad tale about friendship and finding a home. The performances, especially Phoenix and Udo Kier and Van Santu0026#39;s dream-like direction are what you remember. u0026quot;My Own Private Idahou0026quot; may be a flawed film, but in my opinion, it is one of the very best of the u0026#39;90u0026#39;s.”