What makes it different from others?

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

"Taxi zum Klo" or "Taxi to the Toilet" is a West German 90-minute movie from 1980, so this one had its 35th anniversary last year. The writer and director and lead actor is Frank Ripploh and this is his career-defining film, his only really known work although he was pretty close to Rosa von Praunheim occasionally. This connection also tells you the direction this film is taking. It is a fairly early full feature film about the homosexual scene in Germany. The protagonist is a gay man and during these 1.5 hours we get to gain an insight into his life, his personal life and his professional life. In his personal life, he meets another man and they become a couple. Occasionally, they seem pretty happy, but there are also moments when there's major conflict, such as insecurity about where to move, insecurity whether to move at all, jealousy, faithfulness and their relationship in general. The main character played by Ripploh is a school teacher very much liked by his pupils, but his colleagues as well as parents are very critical because they seem to know or at least suspect that he is into men. And as they don't like him because he gets along well with the pupils and because he gives some pupils bad notes, they try to use his homosexuality against him. I really liked the last scene with the kids being allowed to do what they want as it felt a bit as if the main character was breaking free from his struggles, but there's also a negative side to it as he will certainly lose his job after that. And what was that outlet comment. He can't let them do that can he? Anyway, there were scenes I liked in here, but they were also scenes I did not like and the latter includes a rectal examination at the doctor for example which was very graphic. I don't mind such scenes if they add anything to the film, but honestly, this one did not at all. It was only in there to shock audiences and make this film even more controversial. Sometimes subtlety is the right path. As a whole, I would say that this was not too interesting of a film, even if I can see how progressive it was for 1980s. It's a shame it was weak in several areas as Ripploh clearly elevated the material with his acting. May he rest in peace. The bad outweighs the good and I give it a thumbs-down. No need really to make a sequel too.

We checked this film again decades after most of us had seen it first time around. @ Ritzy in Brixton which was bad and independent back in the day. What hit us all, is a moment in the movie where our guy shows his involved in international politics, meeting about Chile etc. He like many gay men is involved in the socialist politics and yet.. and yet where is his moves for individual sexual politics? This really was true back in the day where gay men would be involved in the great left vs right debate but keep their sexual life was a don't ask don't tell and don't expect any gay civil rights involvement from me! This wasn't a myth as Peter Tatchell was an active socialist in the labour part but once his gay lifestyle hit the media, well even the his Party's Leader had to denounce him as a 'poofta'. Political Young folk should watch Taxi Zum Klo to realize how good they have it now.

Frank Ripploh wrote, directed and stars in this autobiographical movie. He's a school teacher in Germany--he's also gay but keeps that a secret from work. He's constantly on the prowl for sex (this was pre-AIDS) and finally meet Bernd. They fall in love...but Ripploh can't stop looking for sex. Will this relationship survive?Ahead of its time. I'm surprised this movie even got MADE let alone released in 1981. I saw it when I was a closeted college student at an art cinema (the movie had an X rating here). It floored me--it showed two men CAN have a loving relationship despite problems. Also it has some very explicit sex scenes which are presented with no apology or pulling back--these scenes put "Queer As Folk" to shame. Also there's one with a very handsome man called Peter Fahrni which might test the limit for some people (he likes "golden showers").This is a fascinating look at an early gay relationship before AIDS changed everything. Highly recommended--but not for everyone.

"Taxi zum Klo" does not enjoy that great a reputation, due to its explicitness and "amoral" (some would say "immoral") values. Yet, I have the feeling that this film, while by no means great, is not all that bad either. The director-star chose to bare his sentiments in this public forum, and has done so with forthrightness. I picked this film in video form from the shelves of a public library. This suggests that given the passing of time, it will be even more readily available, and that viewers will take it all rather routinely. The film has a point of view and an honesty to it. The leading character may not be one's personal choice for a "hero," yet the fact that this is reportedly autobiographical allows the viewer individual options. As for the film's being "banned," this promises to be yet another futile effort in censorship, which seems largely based on the personal fears of the censors. One thing is for sure, once one sees "Taxi zum Ko," one never quite forgets it.