Train Station Pickups (1979)

Follows the experiences of Petra and her friends as they reach the final year at high school.

Director:

Walter Boos

Writer:

George Elmer

Stars:

Marco Kröger, Katja Bienert, Ingeborg Steinbach

Cast

Credited cast:
Marco Kröger	...	Mick
Katja Bienert	...	Petra (as Katja Caroll)
Ingeborg Steinbach	...	Dr. Bauer
Wolfgang Plumhoff	...	Steinberger (as Walter Plumhoff)
Dagmar von Thomas	...	Petras Mutter
Benjamin Völz	...	Dirk (as Benjamin Carwath)
Tobias Meister	...	Toni
Karin König	...	Tina
Martina Engel	...	Gaby
Fritz Hammer	...	Udo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Horst Nowack	...	Freier (as Horst Novak)
Benjamin Witte	...	Bill (as Benjamin Wittke)

Storyline

Follows the experiences of Petra and her friends as they reach the final year at high school.

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Plot Keywords:

drug related crime | cold turkey | coerced prostitution | teenage prostitute | train station | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 75199 delivered on 12 September 1980.

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Connections

References Grease (1978)

User Reviews

Weird mix of "Christiane F." and the "schulmadchen-report" films

The generally light-hearted German "schulmadchen-report" films always had some occasional darker and more sordid scenes in them, so perhaps it's not too surprising that the series co-creator, writer/director Walter Boos, decided to make this film which is half latter-day "schulmadchen-report", but also half an expose of the wayward teen drug addicts and prostitutes hanging around Berlins "Zoo" train station. This latter element was no doubt inspired by the uber-depressing auto-biographical novel and subsequent "serious" German film "Christiane F.". But like the other famous "Christiane" knock-off, the Italian-German "Hanna D., the Girl from Vondel Park", this movie is less serious--and a lot more fun--than its inspiration.

A young girl (Katja Beinert) has a junkie boyfriend who prostitutes himself to chickenhawks down at the bus station. After he apparently accidentally kills a john, the heroine considers dabbling in prostitution herself to help him out. She hooks up with an older friend who is a stripper and amateur prostitute. Meanwhile, another thread of the story follows a male classmate of the heroine, who is love with her, and another girl who is in love with him. And mixed with the shooting-up and the trick-turning scenes, there is the usual, much more innocent teen hijinks like a virgin picking up a sexy punk girl at a club or a couple of mischievous "schulmadchen" trying to seduce their math/gym teacher by feigning a shower-room injury, and, in turn, being taught a lesson by a female teacher (Ingeborg Steinbach, a veteran of the earlier "report" films).

Although it certainly delves into some sordid areas, this film actually ends up being more fun and light-hearted than even some of Boos straight-up comedies. But it does contain several radical shifts in tone that might give a casual viewer whiplash. It's best to not to even ponder exactly how old Katja Bienert was when she did this role, but regardless she is relegated to some fairly innocuous topless scenes here with the other more typically elderly-looking "teen" actresses doing the more graphic ones. But generally this is not one of Boos more graphic films sexually. And even with it's sordid subject matter, it's pretty hard to take too seriously. It's unlikely to get any kind of legitimate release anytime soon, but it's harmless enough.

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

6 July 1979 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Train Station Pickups

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Geiselgasteig Film, Lisa-Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1