L'EAU FROIDE  1994
(Cold Water)
Directed by Oliver Assayas
92 minutes
In French with English subtitles

A sublime film from Oliver Assayas (Carlos, Irma Vep) about growing up in Europe in the early 1970s. Strangely enough, it feels that now, after all the large alternative movements of the last century have died, and the only culture left seems to be business-culture, young people are faced with a similar situation as the characters in this fragile gem of a movie. Cold Water captures perfectly the tone of being young and rebellious, but having nothing in society to connect to.

As he often does in his movies, Assayas follows the lives of two teenagers in an incredibly naturalistic way. This shattering portrait makes most teenage films seem cheap and fake. This one hits the nail on the head, and that's rare. Living on the outskirts of Paris, Gilles and Christine are teenagers from messed-up homes. The film follows the events of their lives, which include shoplifting, soft drugs, boring classrooms, sex, the threats of compulsory internment in mental institutions, and the constant urge to run away and break all of your ties. 

There is one very long and memorable scene towards the end of the film in which a group of teenagers break into and temporary squat an abandoned building in the country to have a wild all-night party. This extended sequence is pure magic... the breaking of windows, a huge bonfire, Roxy Music, Nico, Dylan and Janis Joplin's anthem "Me and Bobby McGee". 
The tone is pitch perfect. It may not always be an easy film in some ways, but it's a great one. 

And this small gem is absolutely never shown in cinemas at all, so this will be an extremely rare screening.

TAKKINO @ the Time Travelers Hotel  
Rokin 108
Doors open at 8, movie at 20:30
Free entrance