717:
701:
683:
667:
271:
Wren to collect her things from Paul's van. Returning to Eric's apartment, Wren learns from Billy that Eric has taken all of their money and gone to Los
Angeles by himself. Confronting the nameless, blonde woman in the stairwell, Wren learns that she is Eric's wife and that he has a history of picking up vulnerable women to exploit for his own financial gain. Attempting to reunite with Paul, Wren learns that he sold his van to a local
262:
punk group from one decade earlier. Although he's now unemployed and living in the apartment of another punk named Billy, Eric professes to be putting together a new group that will be headed to Los
Angeles. Wren leaves Paul to move in with Eric, but she’s forced to leave after a confrontation with a
341:
gets off to a fast start, thanks to Susan Berman's feisty performance and the vitality with which her story is told...Although willful inactivity seems a crucial part of the characters' way of life, it's carried too far; everyone here stays put a little longer than is believable, particularly Paul,
270:
Eric finds Wren and tells her that they are set to go to Los
Angeles, but that they need money to afford transportation and food en route. With Wren’s help, Eric robs a wealthy man, Ed, at gunpoint after trapping him in a taxi. Finding that they've made enough money to go to Los Angeles, Eric sends
254:
Wren runs across Paul, a young man from
Montana in the middle of a road trip who has briefly taken up residence in the city before heading to New Hampshire. Although he sleeps in the back of his dilapidated van, Paul has saved enough money to otherwise live comfortably. When Paul expresses interest
246:
scene, only to find that the movement is now centered in Los
Angeles. Wren finds herself relegated to sneaking into the city's remaining punk hot spot, the Peppermint Lounge, to ingratiate herself with the bands that play there, in the hopes that one of them will take her on as a groupie. She also
266:
Returning to her apartment, Wren discovers that her roommates have fled in her absence and that her landlady has locked her out. Wren visits her brother and sister-in-law in an attempt to get a loan, but they decline on the grounds that Wren has cheated them in the past. With nowhere to go, Wren
188:, only to find that she's gravitated towards Los Angeles; in order to pay her way across country, she engages in a number of parasitic relationships, shifting her allegiances to new "friends" in an ongoing effort to ultimately endear herself to someone who will finance her desired lifestyle.
352:
Film critic
Emanuel Levy wrote "Susan Seidelman's feature debut, the first American indie to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival, put New York's East Village sensibility onscreen by examining issues of identity, desire and self-fulfillment from a distinctly female perspective."
29:
278:
Now homeless, Wren wanders the city until she's propositioned by a man in a convertible. Although she initially dismisses the man's advances, his admonishment that she has nowhere else to go causes her to stop and look back toward his car.
267:
returns to Paul and coaxes him into helping her break into her old apartment to retrieve her things. The two resume an uneasy relationship, and Paul allows Wren to sleep in the back of his van at night.
349:
wrote "Wren, in her self-delusion, manipulativeness, and superficiality, easily ranks as one of the most obnoxious characters in film history, and she exerts a strange fascination."
247:
engages in a campaign to litter the city with photocopied pictures of herself bearing the legend "WHO IS THIS?" in an attempt to generate mystique. Although she works part-time at a
365:
911:
956:
251:
shop by day, Wren nominally uses her position there surreptitiously to print her fliers, and she supplements her lifestyle by mugging women in the subway.
906:
255:
in Wren, she agrees to date him, but she’s emotionally abusive and makes it clear to Paul that she’s more interested in the stability he can offer her.
752:
275:
and used the money to continue his road trip. Looking inside the van, Wren discovers that Paul left behind a watercolor portrait he'd done of her.
946:
936:
921:
916:
901:
435:
569:
931:
722:
460:
951:
745:
695:
896:
782:
226:
217:
372:
it has a score of 72 out of 100 based on reviews from 7 critics, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
738:
496:
342:
who remains parked by the highway for what feels like weeks, with nothing to do but wait for Wren to appear."
587:
860:
806:
712:
381:
926:
891:
239:
200:
230:, Seidelman's next film; both films share similar themes of female identity and self-reinvention.
852:
941:
661:
357:
524:
844:
828:
814:
790:
209:
868:
836:
762:
716:
700:
682:
361:
185:
173:
110:
70:
42:
28:
666:
592:
461:"A Time Capsule of a Gritty, Long-Gone New York- The Current- The Criterion Collection"
259:
242:
from New Jersey who has come to New York City in the hopes of becoming a figure in the
885:
798:
688:
393:
213:
730:
478:
422:
520:
436:"Famous for Being Famous in Downtown '80s New York: Susan Seidelman on Smithereens"
398:
325:, in his second credited film role, makes a brief appearance playing a prostitute.
295:
195:
177:
84:
56:
614:
543:
403:
205:
52:
640:
619:
570:"Susan Seidelman Looks Back: How 'Smithereens' Defined Her Career – Girl Talk"
369:
322:
181:
706:
243:
184:, young woman from New Jersey who comes to New York City to join the waning
368:
of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10. On
678:
672:
655:
384:
DVD/Blu-ray edition, it was released on VHS by Merlin Video in the UK.
641:
Smithereens (1982) trailer by The Duke
Mitchell Film Club on YouTube
248:
176:
and starring Susan Berman, Brad Rijn (billed as "Brad Rinn"), and
258:
On a date, the couple meet Eric, former member of
Smithereens, a
272:
734:
263:
nameless, blonde woman who also lives in the apartment.
727:
an essay by
Rebecca Bengal at the Criterion Collection
157:
149:
139:
116:
106:
98:
90:
76:
64:
48:
38:
21:
194:marked the debut of Oscar-nominated screenwriter
724:Smithereens: Breakfast at the Peppermint Lounge
746:
8:
753:
739:
731:
715:
699:
681:
665:
172:is a 1982 American drama film directed by
27:
18:
479:"Criterion Collection: Susan Seidelman"
415:
912:Films with screenplays by Ron Nyswaner
7:
957:English-language independent films
14:
907:Films directed by Susan Seidelman
497:"Festival de Cannes: Smithereens"
434:Bengal, Rebecca (July 27, 2016).
568:Erbland, Kate (July 28, 2016).
307:Kitty Summerall as Eric's wife
1:
542:Kehr, Dave (March 22, 1985).
947:1980s English-language films
937:1982 directorial debut films
696:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
208:. It was the first American
125:September 11, 1982
922:Films shot in New York City
212:invited to compete for the
973:
917:Films set in New York City
902:American independent films
301:Nada Despotovich as Cecile
204:) and features a score by
783:Desperately Seeking Susan
769:
227:Desperately Seeking Susan
218:1982 Cannes Film Festival
26:
316:Joel Rooks as Xerox boss
310:Rbynne White as Landlady
16:1982 American drama film
932:1982 independent films
822:The Barefoot Executive
523:(November 19, 1982).
180:. The film follows a
952:1980s American films
382:Criterion Collection
289:Susan Berman as Wren
501:festival-cannes.com
304:Roger Jett as Billy
853:Boynton Beach Club
761:Films directed by
713:TCM Movie Database
529:The New York Times
467:. August 26, 2018.
335:The New York Times
313:D.J. O'Neill as Ed
224:is a precursor to
879:
878:
358:review aggregator
345:Dave Kehr of the
292:Brad Rinn as Paul
165:
164:
94:Chirine El Khadem
964:
897:1982 drama films
829:A Cooler Climate
815:The Dutch Master
791:Making Mr. Right
755:
748:
741:
732:
719:
703:
685:
669:
643:
638:
632:
631:
629:
627:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
584:
578:
577:
565:
559:
558:
556:
554:
539:
533:
532:
517:
511:
510:
508:
507:
493:
487:
486:
475:
469:
468:
457:
451:
450:
448:
446:
431:
425:
420:
333:Janet Maslin of
210:independent film
132:
130:
31:
19:
972:
971:
967:
966:
965:
963:
962:
961:
882:
881:
880:
875:
869:The Hot Flashes
837:Gaudi Afternoon
765:
763:Susan Seidelman
759:
652:
647:
646:
639:
635:
625:
623:
613:
612:
608:
598:
596:
586:
585:
581:
567:
566:
562:
552:
550:
541:
540:
536:
519:
518:
514:
505:
503:
495:
494:
490:
477:
476:
472:
459:
458:
454:
444:
442:
433:
432:
428:
421:
417:
412:
390:
378:
362:Rotten Tomatoes
331:
319:
285:
236:
186:punk subculture
174:Susan Seidelman
142:
135:
128:
126:
119:
111:New Line Cinema
102:Susan Seidelman
83:
81:
71:Susan Seidelman
69:
60:Susan Seidelman
59:
55:
43:Susan Seidelman
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
970:
968:
960:
959:
954:
949:
944:
939:
934:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
884:
883:
877:
876:
874:
873:
865:
861:Musical Chairs
857:
849:
841:
833:
825:
819:
811:
803:
795:
787:
779:
770:
767:
766:
760:
758:
757:
750:
743:
735:
729:
728:
720:
704:
698:
686:
670:
651:
650:External links
648:
645:
644:
633:
606:
593:Fandango Media
579:
560:
548:Chicago Reader
534:
512:
488:
470:
452:
426:
414:
413:
411:
408:
407:
406:
401:
396:
389:
386:
377:
374:
347:Chicago Reader
330:
327:
318:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
293:
290:
286:
284:
281:
260:one-hit-wonder
235:
232:
163:
162:
159:
155:
154:
151:
147:
146:
143:
140:
137:
136:
134:
133:
122:
120:
117:
114:
113:
108:
107:Distributed by
104:
103:
100:
96:
95:
92:
91:Cinematography
88:
87:
78:
74:
73:
66:
62:
61:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
969:
958:
955:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
938:
935:
933:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
889:
887:
871:
870:
866:
863:
862:
858:
855:
854:
850:
847:
846:
842:
839:
838:
834:
831:
830:
826:
823:
820:
817:
816:
812:
809:
808:
804:
801:
800:
796:
793:
792:
788:
785:
784:
780:
777:
776:
772:
771:
768:
764:
756:
751:
749:
744:
742:
737:
736:
733:
726:
725:
721:
718:
714:
710:
709:
705:
702:
697:
694:
692:
691:
687:
684:
680:
676:
675:
671:
668:
663:
659:
658:
654:
653:
649:
642:
637:
634:
622:
621:
616:
615:"Smithereens"
610:
607:
595:
594:
589:
588:"SMITHEREENS"
583:
580:
575:
571:
564:
561:
549:
545:
544:"Smithereens"
538:
535:
530:
526:
525:"SMITHEREENS"
522:
521:Maslin, Janet
516:
513:
502:
498:
492:
489:
484:
483:criterion.com
480:
474:
471:
466:
465:criterion.com
462:
456:
453:
441:
437:
430:
427:
424:
419:
416:
409:
405:
402:
400:
397:
395:
394:1982 in music
392:
391:
387:
385:
383:
375:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
354:
350:
348:
343:
340:
336:
328:
326:
324:
321:In addition,
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
287:
282:
280:
276:
274:
268:
264:
261:
256:
252:
250:
245:
241:
233:
231:
229:
228:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
202:
197:
193:
189:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
170:
160:
156:
153:United States
152:
148:
144:
138:
124:
123:
121:
115:
112:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
86:
79:
75:
72:
67:
63:
58:
54:
51:
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
867:
859:
851:
843:
835:
827:
821:
813:
805:
797:
789:
781:
774:
773:
723:
707:
689:
673:
656:
636:
624:. Retrieved
618:
609:
597:. Retrieved
591:
582:
573:
563:
551:. Retrieved
547:
537:
528:
515:
504:. Retrieved
500:
491:
482:
473:
464:
455:
443:. Retrieved
439:
429:
418:
399:1982 in film
379:
355:
351:
346:
344:
338:
334:
332:
320:
296:Richard Hell
277:
269:
265:
257:
253:
237:
225:
221:
201:Philadelphia
199:
196:Ron Nyswaner
191:
190:
182:narcissistic
178:Richard Hell
168:
167:
166:
141:Running time
118:Release date
85:Richard Hell
80:Susan Berman
68:Joanne Gross
57:Ron Nyswaner
775:Smithereens
708:Smithereens
690:Smithereens
674:Smithereens
657:Smithereens
404:DIY culture
380:Before the
339:Smithereens
222:Smithereens
206:The Feelies
192:Smithereens
169:Smithereens
65:Produced by
53:Peter Askin
39:Directed by
22:Smithereens
927:Punk films
892:1982 films
886:Categories
626:January 4,
620:Metacritic
599:January 4,
553:January 1,
506:2009-06-12
445:January 1,
410:References
376:Home media
370:Metacritic
323:Chris Noth
238:Wren is a
214:Palme d'Or
145:89 minutes
129:1982-09-11
49:Written by
845:The Ranch
807:She-Devil
574:IndieWire
329:Reception
244:punk rock
99:Edited by
82:Brad Rijn
33:DVD cover
942:New Wave
679:AllMovie
423:AllMovie
388:See also
360:website
158:Language
77:Starring
711:at the
693:at the
356:On the
337:wrote "
298:as Eric
240:runaway
216:at the
161:English
150:Country
127: (
872:(2013)
864:(2011)
856:(2005)
848:(2004)
840:(2001)
832:(1999)
824:(1995)
818:(1994)
810:(1989)
802:(1989)
799:Cookie
794:(1987)
786:(1985)
778:(1982)
664:
440:Vogue
249:Xerox
662:IMDb
628:2024
601:2024
555:2022
447:2021
366:100%
283:Cast
273:pimp
234:Plot
677:at
660:at
888::
617:.
590:.
572:.
546:.
527:.
499:.
481:.
463:.
438:.
364:,
220:.
754:e
747:t
740:v
630:.
603:.
576:.
557:.
531:.
509:.
485:.
449:.
198:(
131:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
