Smithereens
Criterion Collection Edition #941
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 pasting 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.
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Smithereens
Directed by Susan Seidelman • 1982 • United States
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)...
Extras
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SMITHEREENS Commentary
This commentary featuring director Susan Seidelman was recorded in 2004.
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Susan Seidelman and Susan Berman on SMITHEREENS
This program was made in 2018 and features director Susan Seidelman and actor Susan Berman.
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AND YOU ACT LIKE ONE TOO Intro
The following is a 2018 introduction by SMITHEREENS director Susan Seideleman to AND YOU ACT LIKE ONE TOO, a short she made as a film student at New York University in 1976.
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And You Act Like One Too
Directed by Susan Seidelman • 1976 • United States
This short was made by SMITHEREENS director Susan Seidelman when she was a film student at New York University in 1976.
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YOURS TRULY, ANDREA G. STERN Intro
The following is a 2018 introduction by SMITHEREENS director Susan Seideleman to YOURS TRULY, ANDREA G. STERN, a short she made as a film student at New York University in 1979.
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Yours Truly, Andrea G. Stern
Directed by Susan Seidelman • 1979 • United States
This short was made by SMITHEREENS director Susan Seidelman when she was a film student at New York University in 1979.
