Released 40 years ago, Susan Seidelman's 1985 film "Desperately Seeking Susan" will be shown at the Albany Film Festival on Saturday, March 29. This iconic 80s film, featuring Rosanna Arquette and Madonna, will be followed by a conversation with Seidelman.
But first, we're kicking off our season with Seidelman's groundbreaking debut film "Smithereens," which we'll screen at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at Page Hall on the Downtown UAlbany Campus. It's the first event of our season.
Seidelman's bleak and darkly comedic look at New York City's downtown Bohemian scene of the 1980s, -- with a soundtrack that includes the Feelies and Richard Hell & the Voidoids -- was shot on 16mm for $40,000 on location, at times "guerrilla style" on the streets and in the gritty subways of New York. "Smithereens" captured the look of the post-punk music scene and made history as the first U.S. indie film to be nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The success of "Smithereens" paved the way for Seidelman's "Desperately Seeking Susan."
Seidelman’s memoir Desperately Seeking Something was published in 2024. The New York Times Book Review stated: “Her films defined a gritty, magical New York moment....Susan Seidelman’s life is as full of twists, charm and happy endings as one of her iconic movies."
Here's the trailer for "Smithereens." We hope you'll join us at the screening and at the Albany Film Festival!
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