Fun

Director: Rafal Zielinski
Screenwriters: James Bosley, Rafal Zielinski

Institute History

  • 1994 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Breaking ground at every turn, Fun is a thoroughly modern tale that dives deep Into the heart of suburban wastelands where desperate teenagers navigate freeways, fast food and prefab housing in search of crumbs of understanding and acceptance. A portrait of two young women directed superbly by Rafal Zielinski, the film has a political and moral mission to expose child abuse at its core. Yet closer to the surface, Fun speaks to teenagers in their own language, complete with anger, alienation, elation and sex.

Hillary and Bonnie meet one morning by the side of the road. They become fast friends, share their secrets, and on a rising wave of frenzy later that afternoon, murder an old woman. They did it. they say later, for fun. John is a Journalist who is given the challenge of making sense of this "senseless crime," and Jane is a counselor committed to breaking down the barriers that block the girls from expressing any remorse over their actions. The girls, fourteen and fifteen, staunchly refuse to soften their stand that the killing was fun, and challenge their adult inquisitors to defend a society that offers them no voice and no love.

Shot in verite style, this story is shockingly real. Both Renee Humphrey (Hillary) and Alicia Wit (Bonnie) are triumphant in their portrayals Clearly recognizable as modern teenagers, the girls harbor secrets so frightening it's hard to face. But this is exactly the point of the film: we must look. Our children suffer from abuse and neglect and need help Who can blame Hillary and Bonnie? They share pain and secrets and find joy in their discovery of a kindred spirit. It's like love at first sight. They". . get high just on each other's company." They go for it. Why murder? Why not? It's ecstasy.




Sunday Jan 23 10:20 pm
Holiday Village Cinema II

Monday Jan 24 10:00 am
Egyptian Theatre

Wednesday Jan 26 9:30 am
Prospector Square Theatre

Friday Jan 28 10:20 pm
Holiday Village Cinema II

$7.00

— Catherine Schulman

Screening Details

Sundance Film Festival Awards

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