Smithereens
1982
New York City
Susan Seidelman
Post-Punk Drama
What’s it all about: It’s the early 80s in New York, and everyone is named Susan. Dinner is an egg and a cigarette, and living in a van by the river is a viable option. No one seems to like Susan Berman, especially women, in part because she steals everything she sees, from sunglasses to peanut butter to punk rock boyfriends.
First Encounter: first viewing
Prostitute Index: high
Death By: having to move back to NJ
Relics: long distance rates going down at 11pm, the national anthem station sign-off on late-night TV.
Hoops: throwing someone’s clothes out the window when you’re kicking them out
Heartthrobs: Richard Hell, Kitty Summerall
Pass/Fails the Test of Time: The Peppermint Lounge
LoFi Magic: dumping a bucket of water on the evictee for good measure; Chris Noth as a prostitute
Words to live by: “Tell me the truth, am I like really awful or something?”
Makes me want to: go for lunch at Cafe Orlin (sadly, closed)
Candotti Take: “A lesson not to be a parasite. 20s, 30s, 40s - be independent at any age.”
Worth a watch/rewatch: Yes
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