It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives (1971)

In the heart of Berlin's vibrant streets, young provincial Daniel embarks on a transformative journey through the city's multifaceted gay subculture. This striking sociological exploration, underscored by an omnipresent narration, dives deep into a world of secrecy, oppression, and the pursuit of identity. The viridian-eyed, shy, but curious Daniel meets Clemens, a charismatic blonde who lures him into the city with the promise of freedom and acceptance. Invited into Clemens's home, Daniel finds himself immersed into an imitation of a bourgeois marriage, a simulacrum of societal norms within a clandestine world. As he navigates this foreign lifestyle, he believes he has found love and a sense of belonging. However, the monotony soon seeps into his utopia, turning his romantic adventure into a four-month-long tedium. As Daniel's journey evolves, he is seduced by a wealthy older man who lures him into a world of opulence and sophistication. Thrust into a villa that throbs with the appreciations of fine art and classical music, he finds himself the center of attention amongst a group of older, pretentious gay men. As he plunges into these contrasting subcultures, Daniel's quest for acceptance and love becomes a stark, revealing exploration of gay life in a society that forces it to the shadows. "It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives" is a poignant and empathetic journey into the heart of a hidden world, capturing the struggles and triumphs of a young man's search for his place in a society that refuses to accept him.

It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives is a documentary movie featuring Berryt Bohlen.

It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives is currently streaming on Mubi.