The Apple

Friday, May 17 - Saturday, June 1, 2024

Disastrous misfire or self-aware masterpiece? Biblical allegory or hyper-exaggerated schlock n’ roll? Social commentary or salacious gratification?? The Apple will leave you incredulous, wondering, a la Showgirls, what the hell were they thinking??

Menahem Golan, who (along with cousin Yoram Globus) infected the world with truly tasteless films throughout the Eighties – thanks to their infamous (and now defunct) Cannon Films – writes and directs The Apple: a film which – only in hindsight – could be understood as a brilliantly surreal and extraordinarily entertaining satire on the decadent, debauched disco decade…responsible for Jesus Christ Superstar, Studio 54, Roger Daltry, Saturday Night Fever, and a little too much blow.

The Apple concerns Bibi (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Alphie (George Gilmour), two sweet kids trying, through folk music, to spread peace and harmony to a world tainted by narcissism and greed. They quickly prove no match to the evil Mr. Boogalow (Vladek Sheybal) and his monolithic BIM Empire, which holds a firm grasp over the world’s entertainment industry and – eventually – free will. Bibi simply can’t resist temptation and quickly signs her soul away, succumbing to a life of fast love, fast money, and fast music. She becomes a rock and roll Goddess, and Alphie is left to fight the injustices of an authoritarian society on his own. But will his integrity remain intact? Will he ever see the Bibi he once knew and loved again? Most importantly, will he see a world freed from the tight leather, teased hair, and hologram fashions made obligatory by the BIM??

A document of an era long past (pre-AIDS, pre-crack, pre-Reagan), The Apple paints a portrait of American (sub)culture post-Vietnam, seen through the eyes of a Polish, Israeli-born and raised madman. Dazzling direction, absurd art design, an unbelievably over-the-top score… The Apple will leave you satiated.

Glammed-up disco divas! Glittery queens! Bulging camel-toes! DO THE BIM!!

Playing as part of our new midnight series Let’s Go Crazy: Cult Musicals.

  • Country West Germany
  • Language and Italian with English Subtitles
  • Year 1980
  • Running Time 97 minutes
  • Format 35mm
  • Distributor Park Circus
  • Director Menahem Golan
  • Cast Catherine Mary Stewart, Vladek Sheybal, George Gilmour, Joss Ackland
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.