Smithereens

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Tuesday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m.: Post-screening conversation with director Susan Seidelman and book signing of her new memoir Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls

A vibrant time capsule of the gritty East Village and its young Eighties punk life, SMITHEREENS earned much praise and even competed for the Palme d’or — making it one of America’s trailblazing indies before the movement kicked into high gear at the end of the decade.

Wild teen Wren (Susan Berman) trades NJ for NYC, where she hopes to join what’s left of punk culture. She hangs out with fellow transplant Paul (Brad Rijn), but he’s too safe for her tastes — which run to narcissistic rockers. She finds one in Eric (punk icon Richard Hell), about to cut a record in LA. Before long, Wren plans to accompany Eric out west, but it’s clear she’s trusted the wrong person.

SMITHEREENS marked the directorial debut of Susan Siedelman, whose career includes Desperately Seeking Susan (featuring Madonna) and charming mob comedy Cookie. Here, she turns all the dyed hair, striped shirts, checkered miniskirts, and dingy street settings into an snapshot of a subculture teetering on oblivion.

• Country USA
• Year 1982
• Running Time 93 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor AGFA
• Director Susan Seidelman
• Cast Susan Berman, Brad Rijn, Richard Hell, Nada Despotovich, Roger Jett
• 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.