No Picnic


No Picnic is a film written and directed by Philip Hartman. It was filmed in black and white at New York in 1985 and was released the next year, in the Sundance Film Festival, where it won Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic. Described as "a cinematic love letter to a pre-gentrified New York", the film captures the East Village of the 1980s. Providing the soundtrack are such performers as "The Raunch Hands", Lenny Kaye, Charles Mingus, Fela Kuti, Richard Hell and "Student Teachers". It stars Richard Hell, Judith Malina, Luis Guzmán and Steve Buscemi.

Plot

Failed musician Macabee Cohen makes his living servicing jukeboxes in the neighborhood, while in the search for the woman of his dreams. The obvious gentrification around is distressing and highlights his ill-fated life. His frustration increases when faced with individuals who remind him of his former aspirations.

Cast