The Venus Trap

Feature film.

Fearing being deported, Gabi, a young foreign girl looks for a husband and even has 5,000 German Marks for him. But within the free and marital environment of the commune, there are no candidates for a wedding.

A film by Robert van Ackeren.

"Deutschland privat" is a special project by Robert van Ackeren, who in 1979 asked people to send him their 8mm home movies by placing ads in several magazines in Berlin, Germany. In the ads he announced that he was planning to blow up and mount the best of those movies into a feature documentary to be released in German cinemas. He was surprised how many home movies he received and how generously people allowed him to use them for his feature. Part 1 of "Deutschland privat" gives us typical German home movies of the 1970s, i.e. private holidays, family parties, etc. Part 2 consists of what is now called "amateur porn"; home made 8mm movies featuring real porn action.

While out on the town in Berlin, Raymond sees and falls for Harlis, a star of a troupe of lesbian cabaret strippers. Attracted to a man for the first time, Harlis leaves her long time girlfriend and dance partner. Overwhelmed by jealousy and anger, his brother (Peter) and his ex-fiancee (Ria) are determined to sabotage this budding romance.

In this triangle melodrama, a woman shuts herself off from the world, rejects the advancement of her husband in society, and enthrones her own successor.

Eva, an upper-class housewife, frustratedly leaves her arrogant husband and decides to enter the call girl business. She lets Yvonne, a prostitute, teach her the basics and both set out for prey together, until Eva starts an affair with Chris, who turns out to be a call boy, as well. Consequently, she moves into his penthouse, large enough for both to offer their services separately.

An abstract look at the changes in a woman's inner self. Married to a down-and-out writer, she is forced into a liaison with a book thief.