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'No Picnic': A Grainy Look Back at East Village Life
15 Apr
Summary
- Restored 1985 film 'No Picnic' showcases East Village life.
- The movie features a failed musician on rent strike.
- The film is notable for its visual style and depiction of community.
Philip Hartman's 1985 film 'No Picnic,' now restored, is being shown at Film Forum until April 23. The movie, filmed in the East Village, offers a glimpse into the life of Mac Cohen, a struggling musician involved in a two-year rent strike.
The film captures the vibrant yet gritty atmosphere of the East Village in the mid-1980s, with its crowded streets and neighborhood dynamics. Mac Cohen's journey through dive bars and street fairs is narrated with a voice-over reminiscent of Raymond Chandler.
'No Picnic' premiered in its restored form at the Museum of Modern Art's To Save and Project series earlier this year. The film won an award for Peter Hutton's cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival before its initial release in 1990.
