“I’d like to thank you for this beautiful film.” It was none other than Jean Baudrillard who said this, following the press screening of <em class="film">Verführung: Die grausame Frau</em> in Paris. Based on Sacher-Masoch’s cult novel “Venus in Furs” and de Sade’s “Justine”, which Monika Treut transposed to the port of Hamburg, this elegantly decadent camp film had equally prominent fans (Blumenberg) and detractors (the Minister of the Interior of the time) in Berlin when the story of the mysterious dominatrix Wanda (Mechthild Grossmann), romantic dreamer Gregor (Udo Kier), journalist and toilet slave Mährsch (Peter Weibel) as well as Justine, Caren, Friederike, Judith and Leila premiered at the 1985 Forum. So we can wait with duly bated breath to see how Germany’s cultural politicians digest what the Forum’s heart still desires: queer sensuality, subversive avant-garde stylings, cool hotties, erotic leather, independent cinema. Grossmann now in Tatort retirement, Weibel & Kier already in heaven – honest cruelty and many shining rays of remembrance emanate from this work. Thanks to Elfi Mikesch and Monika Treut. Whips! Dreams! Let’s just do it!