The Incomplete

We meet Klaus Johannes Wolf sitting naked on a couch, except for ankle, wrist and collar cuffs linked to a complex series of chains and with a rather painful-looking cage contraption covering his manhood. Asked to describe himself he says "Odenwald-Gay or Gollum or Klaus. Sixty years old. Gay. Slave". Also, he's a tax adviser. It's quite a combination.

For the next 48 minutes, Jan Soldat offers us a snapshot of Wolf's life, largely told in his own words in between scenes showing us what he does when not advising on tax. Soldat should be praised for striking up a good rapport with Wolf, who seems more than willing to talk about virtually every aspect of his life, from childhood one up, laying himself psychologically bare as well as physically. He also films one - or possibly the only - of Wolf's clients (if that is the right term) who also shows a large amount of trust in the director, being willing to even be captured getting a blow job from his 'slave'.

But the lack of proper context, beyond Wolf's observations of his life is limiting. There's no indication of when he started doing this or how he plies his trade, beyond a series of photos glimpsed at one point which suggest he may have some sort of website. Whether it is a 'trade' at all is, in fact, never mentioned - this may well be simply a mutual arrangement but the detailing is scant. There's also no indication of how often he takes on the role of slave or for what sort of duration, since we also witness him locking and unlocking himself around his home.

Part way through the film we see him head-off to 'slave camp' where, ironically, they first check if he has signed his consent forms. Again, there is an aggravating lack of background information. Although this is presumably the 'slave camp' advertised, it could just as easily be a set-up for a client/consenting partner or two for all we know. Soldat doesn't ask anyone there about their motivations or what's in it for them - presumably cash. Also, considering the camp setting, Wolf seems to be curiously alone in the place.

As the credits roll, Wolf may have bared his soul but the world he inhabits remains frustratingly shrouded.