Movies - Absolute Beginners

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	Movies - Absolute Beginners

Absolute Beginners is a 1986 slick mod-stylish rock musical movie adapted from Colin MacInnes book Absolute Beginners about life in late 1950s London. The movie was directed by Julien Temple and features roles by David Bowie and Sade. Also a breakout role for Patsy Kensit, later known for her marriage to Liam Gallagher.

At the time Absolute Beginners was released, the movie was panned by critics and a box office flop, but since then has gained status as a cult movie, in part due to its soundtrack. Some people compare the movie as the British equivalent of Streets of Fire, a 1984 American movie that was a retro-stylized rock movie with a notable soundtrack, also a commercial failure.

The commercial failure of Absolute Beginners and The Mission led to the collapse of Goldcrest, a major British film studio.

Summary

The editing and direction of Absolute Beginners is uneven at best. Although the film is meant to be a narrative adaptation of the book the plot is difficult to follow, although the film contains many stunning dance sequences the linkages between them are weak. Unless the viewer knows the plot of the book the film appears to be a sequence of unrelated pop videos followed by a riot sequence.

It's 1958 and pop culture is transforming from 1950s jazz and early rock to a new generation on the verge of the 1960s. London is post-World War II, but pre-Beatles and the Stones. The storyline incorporates elements of 1958 London racial riots.

Young hip photographer Colin falls in love with aspiring fashion designer Crepe Suzette, but she's only interested in her career. Colin tries to win her affections by taking a crack at the bigtime himself; meanwhile racial tensions heat up in Colin's neighbourhood of London.

Cast

Patsy Kensit
- Crepe Suzette
Eddie O'Connell - Colin
David Bowie
- Vendice Partners
Bruce Payne
- Flikker

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