Smithereens(Movie, 1982)

Smithereens is a 1982 American drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Susan Berman, Brad Rijn (billed as "Brad Rinn"), and Richard Hell. The film follows a narcissistic, young woman from New Jersey who comes to New York City to join the waning punk subculture, 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. Smithereens marked the debut of Oscar-nominated screenwriter Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia) and features a score by The Feelies. It was the first American independent film invited to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. Smithereens is a precursor to Desperately Seeking Susan, Seidelman's next film; both films share similar themes of female identity and self-reinvention. ()