Boarding School (1978)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Blistering performances.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The movie is one of those soft-core European things, and nobody would remember it today if it weren't for the fact that Nastassja Kinski is the star. The film was originally released in West Germany as Leidenschaftliche Blümchen, and has been shown under such titles as Passion Flower Hotel, Pretty School Girls, and Boarding School, which is how it is listed at IMDb and is the title it had when I saw it on late-night Cinemax (or was it Showtime? HBO?) back in the late 80s. Also has Fabiana Udenio who played "Alotta Fagina" in the first Austin Powers movie.In this movie, a group of students at an exclusive girls' boarding school become prostitutes. Well, sort of. They all want to lose their virginity, and when the new girl (Kinski) shows up and she isn't a virgin, she becomes the ringleader. She doesn't bother to tell them that her vast sexual experience consists of one, count it one time.There is a boys' school on the other side of the lake. Instead of doing the logical thing, i.e. contacting the boys to let them know that there is a near-by bevy of virgins in desperate need of deflowering, they decide they have to present themselves to the boys as being very experienced indeed, all of them. And who is more sexually experienced than a prostitute? So prostitutes they become, designating the boathouse as their brothel and buying lingerie and lanterns and costumes and such. The only reason they charge any money is because they'd be rather unconvincing prostitutes if they didn't.It all sounds very naughty, and the fact that the opening shot is of a barely-legal teenage tit doesn't make it seem any less so. But the movie is more sweet and funny than sleazy, and one can't help but chuckle at how difficult it is for anybody to get laid when everybody is so very, very willing. It is available on DVD in a package deal called "Hollywood Hotties," paired with Kill Cruise and Choices, two other movies nobody would remember if not for their soon-to-be-famous stars (Elizabeth Hurley and Demi Moore, respectively). Fabiana Udenio was about fourteen when Boarding School was made, but she stays covered up enough… just enough.One thing I find interesting is that the girls become prostitutes not because they want the *money,* but because they want the *status.* Not as much nudity as I remember; I guess I was easier to impress at nineteen.

Switzerland, 1956. Five teen girls turn the boathouse near their strict boarding school into an amateur brothel, offering paid services of "sexual education"; the boys from another local boarding school immediately sign up as clients. It sounds sleazy, but the sleaze factor is kept pretty low. The film is surprisingly tame, discreet, tender, even charming at times. The premise may be far-fetched, but the way it's played there are many moments that ring true. IMDb lists the original language as "German", but the English dubbing is barely noticeable, because the voice actors who were chosen to dub the film have varied and distinctly European (but still clear-enough) accents. On the negative side, there isn't much of a plot to the film, and the cinematography is excessively "soft-focus". (**1/2)

I have seen this movie a number of times and enjoyed it. It was filmed in the 70's so its doesn't have the film quality of today, but its still good. I thought it was funny. I would love to have a copy of it to keep because I haven't seen it in a few years. I think its important to remember that it was filmed years and years ago in another country. The actors obviously spoke in a European language so the American version has other voices speaking English. Its a cute movie and I think we can all relate to that time in our lives when we were exploring sex and love. I think some people would have liked more nudity. As I recall there are a lot of above the waist views, but not much else. Enjoy!

Only reason why this film got released by Atlantic pictures in 1982 is because young Kinski was in the film. Other than that, this film would've been lost in the drive-in market (I think it played in 1977 as PRETTY SCHOOL GIRLS in some US market in the 70's). Little laugh and bad dubbing, but it's good to see a early performance from two beautiful actresses Kinski and Udenio (who is in many U.S. films).