#941: SEIDELMAN, Susan: Smithereens (1982)

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SEIDELMAN, Susan (United States)
Smithereens [1982]
Spine #941
Blu-ray


Susan Seidelman established her distinctive vision of New York City with this debut feature, the lo-fi original for her vibrant portraits of women reinventing themselves. After escaping New Jersey, the quintessentially punk Wren (Susan Berman) — a spark plug in fishnets — moves to the city with the mission of becoming famous. When not posting up self-promotional flyers or hanging at the Peppermint Lounge, she's getting involved with Paul (Brad Rinn), the nicest guy to ever live in a van next to the highway, and Eric (Richard Hell), an aloof rocker. Shot on 16 mm film that captures the grit and glam of downtown in the 1980s, with an alternately moody and frenetic soundtrack by the Feelies and others, Smithereens — the first American independent film to compete for the Palme d'Or -- is an unfaded snapshot of a bygone era.

93 minutes
Color
Monaural
1:66:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2018
Director/Writer


Susan Seidelman was 30 when she wrote and directed Smithereens.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

 The Booklet

Ten-page wraparound featuring an essay by critic Rebecca Bengal.

Commentary

From 2004 featuring Seidelman.

Interviews

With Seidelman and actor Berman.

Two early shorts

By Seidelman: And You Act Like One Too (1976) and Yours Truly, Andrea G. Stern (1979), with new introductions by the director.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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