Mandragora

He was 15 – an innocent from a small village, soon to be trapped in the erotic underworld of Prague.

Directed by Wiktor Grodecki

Produced by Prague Film Enterprises, Hamilton Productions

A harrowing portrait of adolescent vulnerability and exploitation in Prague's underworld, where a runaway's attempts at escape are repeatedly thwarted by circumstance and his own paralysis.

Marek is a 15-year-old from a provincial village who runs away to Prague when he begins to fail at school. He is mugged shortly after arriving in the city and is rescued by Honza with the promise of work. Marek is taken to an apartment, drugged, and becomes a male prostitute. He is a bit smarter than his colleagues and teams up with a friend, David, in order to go after bigger scores – to cash in and get out. They manage to stash away a bit of money, but when it comes time to return home, Marek loses his nerve and is soon back in the city.