Johns

John is a young male prostitute in Hollywood. The hard and cruel reality on the streets has taught him not to trust anyone. Donner on the other hand, who is new on the streets and is not as cynical as John yet, sees the older and more experienced John as his best friend. Because of the unconditional discrimination of the weak and dependents, John does not wish to find himself in a relationship with responsibilities. Yet despite his repeated attempts to reject Donner, a band of friendship is established between these two lost souls. Their story begins on a hot December morning, the day before Christmas Eve when John awakes on a park bench to discover that his shoes have been stolen. It would not have been such a catastrophe if all of his money had not been in them. On top of which, Christmas Eve is his birthday and he had been planning to spend it in one of the poshest hotels in town. Now, with neither shoes nor money, he has to quickly earn $300 in order to realize his plans. Donner is firmly resolved to help him. But during this day their powers of survival and friendship are strained to the limit and their dream of a little dignity is slowly eroded. As night falls, nothing is the same. The two friends have learnt the real meaning of friendship and sacrifice. Director and scriptwriter Scott Silver's well-conceived attention to detail in the script grips the viewer and gives the story vitality. The decision to set the film at Christmas, with its message of sacrifice and generosity, provides a bleak contrast to the reality the main characters experience. Johns suggests that there is hope of finding care and compassion even in the cruelest of worlds. Although the tough conditions on the streets constantly threaten John and Donner's lives, they are offered help from the most unexpected quarters. Yet despite these short rays of hope, it is a fateful emotional tone which rings clearest throughout this story, a tone which signals the hopelessness of their fight to fulfill their simple dreams. BB