Body Without Soul

It's very rare that a movie haunts me, especially a documentary. Usually I take most documentaries with a grain of salt and very rare that many scare me or even make me enjoy the life I have.

Eneter Writer/Director Wiktor Grodecki who also wrote and directed Mandragora(Review coming soon) a year after completing this film. The movie starts off with a note: "1000 Czech Crowns=35 USD".

We are then introduced to some boys all between the ages of 14-20. Many of them are runaways, some are good looking, and some are not. But they all have one thing in common they are all underage prostitutes living or trying to survive in Prague.Because of the poor economy there due to post-communism, sex,drugs and many other things which would probably cost us more then a weeks pay cheque, costs next to nothing there. We find out how most of them started, and where the popular spots are, including the train station, the pool and the park. Many of the prostitutes explain that even kids as young as 11 sell themselves just to be able to play in the arcade and do just about everything.

It's almost chilling to find out that many of this stuff happens, and how bad you feel for these boys, as much as they are naive, striving to survive by selling themselves to older men just to make a quick dollar by either spending it on drugs or food or even shelter. And when they can't make a quick dollar they see a man named Pavel Roussek, who by day works a coroner for the police, but at night makes pornography films with many boys who are underage.

When first meeting this man the first thing i felt was disgust for what he was doing. He explains how and who he directs for, mainly his audience are Germans, and also goes on to explain that many of the boys can't wear condoms because the audience does not want to see that leaving them open to many diseases. While he is talking we are also treated to a few scenes in which include him dissecting a cadaver. At this point i could have thrown up but I can assure you the worst was me losing my appetite, but many people viewing this may not take well to this.

While Pavel is a sick man, and what he does is sick none of the boys are innocent as well, some steal just to make a living others including one boy name Mark who is only 15 who has AIDS and not even caring about Dieing, that he accepts his faith. Many of the boys discuss how they feel about there body's, some think that there body is the only way to survive and can use it anyway possible to get a few bucks, other boy's say how there body is "S**t" and hate themselves for what they do.

Towards the end, the boys are asked what they think the soul is. Some say how they have a soul and would save it for someone special for whom they love. Others say they would sell it for 2000 Crowns, and one boy exclaiming how his body is a "Body without soul" just to be used by men and get an extra dollar.

The film conveys a powerful message one of my favorite parts that made me tear a bit was Young David, saying how he loves one person but has not seen him in over 2 years. There is an awkward silence, as you believe he is talking about a lover or someone else but he tears up a bit and looks straight at the camera and says "The one person whom i love and have not seen in over two years is..my father". you can see how he'd really love to see his family again, and that he hates the life he lives. At the end when the credits roll, you immediately see your life for what it is, and heck I can tell you for someone who has thought his life was crap, you get a feeling that at least your life has a future unlike many of the boys in this film. A very dark and intriguing documentary that should not really be missed anyone but wary for others as this is not an easy movie to take.