Institute History
Description
Life is not going well for Dante Hicks. He is called into work at his menial, convenience-store job on his day off; his current girlfriend is hounding him to go back to school; he learns that his old girlfriend, whom he’s still hung up on, is engaged; and his best friend/chief antagonist, Randal, who works at the neighboring video store, consistently insults Dante’s customers and takes every opportunity to drive him crazy.
Kevin Smith’s comically ironic debut feature is the quintessential independent film. Extremely low budget and shot in cheesy black and white in Smith’s blue-collar neighborhood in New Jersey with a largely nonprofessional cast, Clerks captures the angst and aimlessness of its disaffected characters with a combination of empathy and irreverent humor. As Dante copes with an endless stream of customers demanding cigarettes and asking stupid questions, we share his frustration and can’t help but appreciate his tenacity.
Clerks shared the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival and went on to attain cult-film status. Special thanks to Miramax for the brand-new 35mm print we are screening at the Festival.