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Der junge Törless (Young Törless) is a 1966 German movie directed by Volker Schlöndorff adapted from the autobiographical novel Die Verwirrungen des Zöglings Törless by Robert Musil dealing with the sadistic and homoerotic tendencies of a group of boys at an Austrian military academy at the beginning of the 20th century.
Plot synopsis
When Thomas Törless (Mathieu Carrière) arrives at the academy, his interest is soon piqued by the apparently homosexual Anselm von Basini (Marian Seidowsky), who, after having been caught stealing by fellow student Reiting (Fred Dietz), becomes Reiting's "slave", bowing to Reiting's sadistic rituals. Törless follows their relationship with intellectual interest but without emotional involvement.
Also partaking in these sessions is Beineberg (Bernd Tischer), with whom Törless visits Bozena (Barbara Steele), the local prostitute. Again, Törless is aloof and more intrigued than excited by the woman.
When Basini and Törless are left alone in the academy, Törless sleeps with Basini, though he later decides it was just an experiment.
After Basini is nearly lynched by a mob because of one of Reiting's intrigues, Törless, having completed the transition from youth to adult, takes his life in his own hands for the first time and leaves the academy.