Toilers and the Wayfarers, The

By: Raymond Murray
In-House Review - Dec 09 2011

A tender coming out drama independently made in Minnesota, The Toilers and the Wayfarers is a crisp black and white, compelling and highly original film. Set in a small German-American community, the film introduces two 16-year-old olds, Phillip (Woodhouse) and Dieter (Klemp), who are best friends; that is, until Phillip, in a moment of perceived closeness, reveals that he is gay. Dieter, the product of an oppressive puritanical father, spurns his friend, yet all-the-while beginning the process of acknowledging that he himself is gay, as well. Udo (Schirg), a goofy straight German in his early 20s who is visiting his sick aunt, befriends Dieter and unconsciously helps in his coming out. The film takes a less interesting turn when the action is switched to Minneapolis, a city that offers hope for both boys and Udo. But instead of finding acceptance, the two boys turn to prostitution to survive. The young leads are attractive and the nudity and love scenes between the teens are filmed in a non-exploitative but sexy fashion. Quietly ambitious, in that director Froelich tries to connect the immigrant experience with being gay in America, the drama winningly succeeds.

By: Amos Lassen

Last night I rewatched "The Toilers and the Wayfarers". It had been awhile since I watched it and I was in the mood for something that I had remembered enjoying. I thoroughly enjoyed it again. It is different and has qualities that newer films have not been able to capture.
We follow three young gay teenagers as they come of age in a small Minnesota town. Dieter, Phillip and Udo become friends in a very unusual way and the boys are all very different. One is a young alcoholic who is also a lay about serves as the catalyst for the self-realization that the other two are gay. Another guy moves to the city and becomes a hustler and the other follows, ending up selling his body as well. Having been rejected by their parents, the boys who are both young and without skills, have nothing and no one to turn to.
Keith Froelich, the director, manages to successfully captures growing up gay beautifully. Minneapolis represents to the boys a chance to be who they are and a haven. Filmed in black and white, the movie emits a feeling of loneliness and despair, the same feelings the boys were having when they realized that going to a large city was the only way they could deal with themselves. It is very difficult to be gay in a small town, especially since the boys were double minorities---gay and of German heritage. When they went to the city they had the change to really be who they felt they were. Dieter, who had been somewhat homophobia (denying his own sexuality to himself), turns out to be a hustler and finds peace. His spiraling downward morality induces us to think about his situation.
The movie is sincere and earnest even if it is a bit uneven. There are moments of comedy but by and large this is a depressing look at the way boys must deal with their sexuality. This movie is definitely worth a watch. However, it was made in 1995 at a time when gay cinema was beginning to come into its own. It is nowhere near a slick production but it is an interesting look at coming of age.

By: Dragonn