WARNING!
Description source: promotional material
Legendary director William Higgins presents the final episode in the trilogy that introduced the world to the hard-pounding talents of the fine young men of the Czech Republic. Jirka Kalvoda stars with Andel and Pavel Korsakov.
If you're a fan of handsome young uncut Eastern European men, we've got some buddies for you. PRAGUE BUDDIES 3.
In the first scene, handsome young newcomer Jozeph Markovich butt bangs blond and beautiful Mylan Forman.
Then Ivo Skalka is the voyeur as he watches Martin Pravda take the Czech-boner up his butt from Roman Thomas. It's hot enough to get Ivo to join Martin and Roman.
Pavel Korsakov is just a dream. What an ass! He has his fun with newcomer Peppino Sobato.
Switch to Bosnia. Yes, that Bosnia. Director Higgins puts the boys in military duds and explores platoon living for the Czech men who served as peacekeepers in Bosnia. This particular platoon explores a man-orgy. The all-out action includes Libor Taborsky, Martin Pravda, Andel, Roman Thomas, Pavel Holub, and blond and beautiful Mylan Forman. (We like Mylan!)
We also like Jirka Kalvoda. Watching him get fucked is our second favorite activity. Our first favorite is watching Jirka do the fucking, which he does to Andel's eager little boy ass.
Like its two predecessors, William Higgins' Prague Buddies 3 shimmers with the magical glow of another world and the tantalizing men who inhabit it, but this third entry in the series has more serious things on its mind than adolescent sex games. A remarkable two-hour epic, subtitled Liebestod ("love/death"), it explores how the war in Bosnia, like all wars, has affected the young men turned soldiers. Amid the bombings, the separations and the constant reminders of their own mortality, they discover that innocent sexplay can turn to male bonding and that the bonding may flower under fire into a love that is even richer and deeper. In short, war makes the youthful buddies grow up fast.
Each of the five vignettes that comprise the film is a one-act play that focuses on some particular aspect of the war's effect on young men who are called upon to uproot their lives, to face death and to steal moments of happiness as they may. If all this sounds a bit like a World War II film from 1940s Hollywood, that is exactly how Prague Buddies 3 feels, only here the intimate moments do not fade to black. And for the romantics among you, the action delivers a very special wallop - the explicit sequences are as much love scenes as sex scenes, and the final fadeout is as moving, in its way, as the ending of All's Quiet on the Western Front or For Whom the Bell Tolls.
The first playlet focuses on a new Higgins discovery, the blond, buffed, baby-faced Jozeph Markovich, as a youth who runs away from home and hitches a ride to Prague with a sympathetic cabdriver (Mylan Forman). Since the runaway has no money, he offers himself as payment. Their love scene, in the hayloft of a barn filled with exquisitely lit, early morning fog, is tentative, tender and surprisingly touching. One can almost believe that it is a true case of love at first sight. The action begins with cautious caresses but in time runs the entire gamut of male-male sex acts, including kissing, sucking, rimming, multipositioned fucking and potent ejaculations. The gym-built Forman is a powerful butch bottom, and Markovich is strikingly effective as a novice who discovers his own nature in a single evening. But the affair is doomed - the taxi driver has been called up for active duty in Bosnia and must leave the next day. With no hope for the future, they spend their one night together locked in desperate embrace.
In the second playlet, two youths, Ivo Skala (a compact, crewcut newcomer) and Martin Pravda (the veteran performer looking more like a Byronic hero than ever), cruise each other at a village festival not unlike our American Halloween celebration but do not connect. Their haircuts and pieces of military uniforms suggest that perhaps they are soldiers on leave. Later, outside the town, Skala watches Pravda strolling along a rippling brook with his buddy, the tall, handsome Roman Tomas. In time, the pair spots the outsider and invites him to join them for an al fresco threeway in which each services the other two orally. They move into the attic of an abandoned building for the anal action, and both Pravda and Skala top Tomas, whose humongous erection remains hard throughout. The coverage of the squat fuck, in which Tomas rides Pravda while sucking Skala is the apex of the scene. Tomas cuts a striking figure - smooth and hairless from the waist up, as hairy as a centaur from the waist down. And Pravda drives the scene to its splashy conclusion.
The third episode finds Higgins favorite Pavel Korsakov telling his lover from Prague Buddies 2, Jirka Kalvoda, farewell. Kalvoda, in uniform, is off to the wars, but Kalvoda, on crutches, must remain behind. The separation is painful, but a young friend, Peppino Sobato, offers solace. In a deserted building, Kosakov's memories of the affair turn strangely but believably sexual, and soon he is working his own impressive erection. The innocent Sobato is amazed but transfixed by the sight and (with charming gaucherie) soon follows Korsakov's instructions to strip and join in. Although (or perhaps because) the action is limited strictly to manual play, the scene is electrifying. And at its conclusion, when Korsakov tells him, "You are a young man with a lot to learn, and I've got the time to teach you," the viewer aches to witness the rest of the tale.
The fourth, longest and most elaborate playlet takes place in a barracks where Andel (in top hat), Libor Taborsky and Pravda (both in comic drag) are performing a silly USO-type show for the troops. Their amateur night song-and-dance is delightful, and, of course, it soon turns sexual. A sextet of intertwined audience members, turned on by the antics on stage, fall into a beautifully photographed tableau in which popular veteran Pavel Holub services superbutch Marko Giacomo, Forman chows down on bright-eyed brunet Bill Zeeman, and pretty boy Zdenek Romany devours a smoldering Russian, Sascha Antonov. The oral and anal action is relentless as they shift into constantly changing configurations and fire off more cum shots than we could count.
Among the highlights: Holub's cocksucking (he is one of the few Eastern European who does not limit himself to just the head of the cock); Pravda watching a propulsive, no-handed money shot from Romany; a sandwich fuck in which Taborsky proves in a series of dazzling undershots that he knows both how to fuck and get fucked; Forman giving head through a chain link fence; and Forman and Zeeman riding Giacomo and Pravda in side-by-side lap-fucks. With such a wealth of sexual riches, it is not always possible to determine who is doing what to whom, but most of the time it doesn't matter, for this is by far the finest group scene Higgins has ever created.
The final playlet finds Andel and Kalvoda captured and tortured by the enemy before they escape through the winter snows to a bombed out building where they cuddle close because of the cold and, in time, find each other's lips and make love. This is the perfect pairing of a consummate top and a consummate bottom, and Kalvoda's multipositioned fucking of his partner (as well as Andel's voracious cocksucking) are the most handsomely photographed segments of the film. Don't miss one series of head-on shots of Andel giving head, his doe eyes practically jumping out of the screen. Both deliver potent money shots, but Andel's propulsive, multispurted explosion is not only the finest of the film but a personal best as well. Afterward, when they attempt to flee the war zone, one of them is killed by a sniper, and as the other clutches his lover's lifeless body in the blood-streaked snow, the adult film reaches a rare zenith as art. In its own way, the conclusion of Prague Buddies 3 is as wrenching a statement about the futility of war as it is about the intricacies of love. This is one for the permanent collection.
- Jerry Douglas
By the time William Higgins finishes his "Prague Buddies" series, we will know more about the culture and psyche, of Eastern European (primarily Czech) men than anyone has ever learned over the many years of history which have shaped that region. That he will have done that through detailing the deeply personal, romantic, sometimes melancholic -- but always explosive -- sexual appetites of these men will eventually rank as one of the most remarkable artistic achievements of the international porn industry. This is said in all deference to, and recognition of, the equally stunning contributions made by Bel Ami's George Duroy. Duroy gives us unabashed sexual pleasure; Higgins gives us depth, and -- egad, I can't believe I'm writing this -- soul.
On its face, "Prague Buddies 3: Liebstod" is an outstanding achievement in cinematography, casting, direction and very hot sex. Taken with its predecessors, "Prague Buddies," "Prague Buddies 2: Verbotene Leibe," and (we expect) the sequel, "Prague Buddies 4: Tales of the Ancient Bohemian Woods," however, this flick is a must-see for more than all the cinematic and cultural reasons. It also represents a history of Eastern European male porn, for it was filmed for the most part a couple of years ago in bits and pieces, and it features the very first post-California Higgins stars, some of whom have disappeared, others still holding down Fortress Higgins. As such, it's a bridge. It's good to see old friends, and it's especially good to see them sucking and fucking with such intense abandon, as if tomorrow may not come.
Indeed, that is the underlying theme of "Prague Buddies 3" -- that young men who came of age during the first decade of post-Communist rule are suddenly thrust into another belligerent situation, that of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, specifically Bosnia (which dates the movie instantly), which is where some of the cast is headed as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force.
We are introduced to this through the beautiful eyes of Jozeph Markovich, whose shining blond face opens the movie while he's handcuffed to a bed in his grandparents' home in the Czech countryside. Seems they've promised his father to look after him, and he's been rowdy, chasing the girls and all that. This scene is hilarious and exceptionally insightful, even though it lasts but a minute. After evoking a promise to mend his ways (complete with "kiss-the-cross") the grandparents let Jozeph go, and he runs away again. This time, however, he's intent on making it to Prague, and winds up flagging a taxi driven by Mylan Forman, whose first appearance on screen was in Higgins' "Andel's Story 2: The Running of the Bulls" (All Worlds), where he was ravished anally by several men. His video achievement thus far, however, was his incendiary coupling (as Juro Boulac) with Ladislav Pekar in final scene of "Winning Ways" (Studio 2000), the recent romp from Higgins' Prague protégé Jan Novak. Mylan is without question the most muscular, and quite possibly handsomest, bottom in Higgins' ensemble -- a crew-cut blond with piercing blue eyes that simply undress the beautiful Jozeph as he gets into the cab and announces that he wants to go to Prague but has no money. I was quite expecting a spurt of cum to fly out of Mylan's pants into his eye from the way Higgins framed his response to Jozeph's plight: "Well, what the hell," as he shifts into gear.
Once in Prague, Jozeph protests that he wishes he could do something for Mylan's kindness, and when asked what he has in mind, responds with a line that, unless it's a Czech idiom, might have gotten lost in the subtitle translation: "I can give you a hand roll." We are transported to an abandoned barn attic where Mylan is butt-naked except for tight, torn denim shorts, bathed in light and being caressed to the strains of opera (I don't know which) by an adoring, shirtless, Jozeph. It's straight out of a painting by Rafael.
This is a gentle, somewhat hesitant, love scene filled with discoveries -- Jozeph finds Mylan's straining cock through a hole in his shorts, pulls it out and adores it, licks and kisses Mylan's incredible abs and pecs, and takes his first piece of cock, which quickly turns into a gobble. Mylan pulls Jozeph's hot rod from his white sport boxers, spending some time on his delicious navel ahead of time -- then, professional that he is -- gives Jozeph a lesson in cocksucking. They evolve their tryst through several artfully staged 69 positions before (out of nowhere) Jozeph produces a dildo, and proceeds to warm up his new friend's hole. He then plunges his owns substantial rocker up Mylan's fully round and rewarding butt until he pulls out in a spew of thick white goo, matching his new lover's seed. Transformed, Jozeph pines that Mylan and he should live together, but though he professes he would like to, tells his lover that he must leave for Bosnia in the morning. They fall asleep in each other's arms (and damn it if I didn't sigh while wiping my stomach dry).
Higgins then takes us to a traditional Czech festival, "The Burning of the Witches," which serves to further his intent of getting us to love his adopted homeland, and to introduce us to Martin Pravda, Roman Tomas and Ivo Skala, who sort of bump into each other as tourist observers throughout the festivities. Ivo, a crew-cut, buff, top who bears a slight, but more mature, resemblance to Higgins' star Carlo (of "Carlo & Friends," William Higgins), eventually finds a sleeping post in a tree house. He wakes there the next day and spies Roman and Martin going through the woods, stripping and wading into a stream. Roman, a tall, lithe dark beauty with some chest hair, has got one of the longest cocks in Europe -- a good 10-incher.
However, the revelation here is Martin Pravda, an early Higgins star whom I hardly recognized. He grew his hair and buffed up, and turned into one of the most stunning young men in the movie; indeed, I think he steals it from under everyone's cock. He does this by unabashedly worshipping cock -- he begins by kissing Roman by the stream and dropping to gobble that magnificent dong. Then, when they spot a naked Ivo, who gets embarrassed and tries to put his hardon between his legs, Martin pulls the cock through his thighs and sucks it from behind. Martin then double-sucks both of the others until they spurt, Ivo sending more than his share all over the place, with Martin worshipping the spilling of every drop. The boys then climb into an old barn attic (lots of them in the Czech Republic) and finish their tryst with both Ivo and Martin fucking Roman in a variety of positions. "Clair de Lune" is the soundtrack. It works.
We are now in a square in Prague. Four men are taking off for their military stint in Bosnia; their friends, or lovers, are there to see them off. Here we are introduced to the stars of "Prague Buddies" and "Prague Buddies 2" -- the hulky Jirka Kalvoda, and the exceptionally beautiful Pavel Korsakov, who is on crutches, and who clearly is trying to hide the pain he feels seeing his lover, Jirka, going off to war. Jozeph is there also, waving goodbye to Mylan, as is Ivo hugging Martin goodbye. Also there is a post-pubescent sad-eyed bunny named Peppino Sobato, who gives a hug to Marko Giacomo. The soldiers pull away, and Pavel Korsakov is left alone, on crutches, until Peppino approaches him and tells him he "knows a place" where they can sit and talk. They get into a cab (driver is Higgins), and wind up in yet another loft.
Obviously hampered by his condition, Pavel was probably in no shape for one of his traditionally wonderful fuck-fests, so Higgins turns this scene into an almost melancholic mutual jerk-off -- and it works. "I already miss Jirka so much," Pavel says to Peppino, and starts to strip. What follows is one of the more sensuous mutual jack-off scenes you're likely to see. With sweet, longing looks, and a soundtrack to match, the two strip, mostly to Pavel's soft toned instructions, which are downright sensual in Czech. Peppino is given a lesson in eroticism by Pavel, whose instructions are sometimes in subtitles, but for the most part need no translation. By the time they reach a mutual climax, Pavel's closing lines are anti-climactic: "You are young and have so much to learn. And I have the time to teach you."
Now we are at the Bosnian front, in the winter, in the snow. In the barracks some Czech and Russian soldiers decide to put on a little show, à la "Cabaret." The lovely Andel, Higgins' first big Eastern European star, a soft-faced beauty with full red lips, a wonderfully ingratiating smile -- and nice cock and fantastic ass, plays the Joel Grey character. Then Martin Pravda and Libor Taborsky come out in wash-mop drag and the three do an Andrews Sisters routine. Two of the Russians then show a thing or two about their own way of dancing and the entertainment (well, the stuff with clothes on) comes to an end, the fun begins.
Andel and Jirka are scheduled for patrol, and as they leave, Martin and Libor (the Andrews Sisters) start groping each other. Meanwhile, in the audience, Mylan leans over and kisses Bill Zeeman, a short, dark-haired powder keg; Pavel Holub cops a feel from Marko Giacomo; and Zdenek Romany wastes no time and goes down on the long, long cock of Roman Tomas. Across the room, Martin and Libor are fucking around with one of the Russians, and before long, it's everyone into the pool. This is an orgy that is highlighted by two main cinematic effects: Live sucking and breathing -- it's exceptional, especially when there's no musical background; and wonderful lighting. Indeed, this is one of Higgins' best orgies ever because of the lighting. The scene is in a dark building, but you see every inch of skin (going into every aperture), hear every moan and lick, and witness some extraordinary sex.
Zdenek Romany is a major player here, eating cock and getting his butt stuffed in virtually every take -- this is a really attractive Slavic type with a fantastic ass and halfback body. Martin Pravda eats every dick in sight, while Bill Zeeman serves as a pumping board for a half-dozen cocks. Mylan Forman provides some wonderful moments sucking cock through a chain-link fence, popping up and down on cocks in sit-fuck fashion, and simply spreading his legs from wall to wall for impatient poles to plow. Roman Tomas keeps his long cock busy, and his butthole filled. Libor Taborsky, who was usually a top in other Higgins films, takes it up the wazoo with abandon here. Indeed, there is so much sex going on, so many cum-shots from each of the participants that I can only imagine that it had to be filmed over more than two days. On film it lasts more than 40 minutes -- and that's a full-length flick from some studios! (You can imagine what my laundry bill is for this scene alone!)
Finally, we are placed in a pretty dicey situation. With Pavel Korsakov watching reports of NATO's bombing of Serbia on TV back home, his lover Jirka and the beautiful Andel are captured on patrol, tortured and thrown into a makeshift prison and handcuffed together. Here Higgins lets the natural effects of loneliness; melancholy, fear, and sexual attraction take over. We are left to eavesdrop on Jirka and Andel as they try to get out of their primitive handcuffs, and succeed in part; then Andel whispers that he's cold and Jirka bundles him close. And they kiss. Their love scene is unusual in that it is all one-way. Andel worships Jirka, who allows his cock and body to be engulfed by the adoring Andel, who then takes Jirka's substantial pole in sit, doggy and straddle positions. It's really not as cold a scene as it sounds, thanks almost exclusively to the wide-eyed wonderment of Andel.
The ends of both the love scene and the movie should not be revealed here; you have to see it in order to appreciate the overall effect which Higgins is trying to achieve with this, and other, segments of a growing body of work which has already matched, if not dwarfed, his American career in terms of imagination, artistry and pure sexuality. It is the genius of this one man who has bridged the male porn industry for almost four decades now, and I for one am absolutely certain that when and if he decides to leave Prague, he would be able to define an entirely new male porn genre wherever he might alight. New Zealand, anyone?
A Video Review by Bo Champion