Das Ende des Regenbogens (1979)

Jimmy, an androgynous 17-year-old who fascinates men and women with his very being, lives in West Berlin in the late 1970s. He hustles for sex and lives off handouts to survive. He narrowly escapes arrest when hunger happens to lead him to a snack stand as plainclothes officers raid the area behind Bahnhof Zoo, which had recently made national headlines for its street prostitution. Although Jimmy initially slept on the street, he manages to move in with Jörg, Monika, and Dieter in their shared student flat, but still keeps roaming his territory: parking lots, pubs, and nightclubs. In truth, he is looking for warmth and trying to find the sense of security a child should have, but his need for love is too great to be fulfilled. Jimmy hides his charm behind brazen defiance and thinks everything is “Cool, huh?!” or “Shit!” His roommates are increasingly overwhelmed by the situation and divided over what to do, because Jimmy was never taught any sense of order at home and experienced violence instead of love. For a short time, Jimmy gets a job, but loses it after just a few days because he is simply inattentive at work and unable to show any consistency. By his second day, he feels too secure at work and can no longer hide how exhausting the unfamiliar work is for him. Jimmy had actually expected a treasure to be waiting for him at the end of the rainbow in return for his work, but the money he earns is not even enough for a new pair of trousers. Deep down, though, Jimmy does not want to work at all; he would rather take each day as it comes and takes advantage of his girlfriend, Gabi. She, however, provides him with little support, especially as she cannot break free of her drug addiction. Ultimately, Jimmy is overcome by his own pride, leaves the shared flat so he no longer has to depend on students, and chooses his criminal freedom.