''Blank Generation'' is a 1980 American-produced music film, directed and co-written by

Ulli Lommel Ulli Lommel (21 December 1944 – 2 December 2017) was a German Film actor, actor and Film director, director, noted for his many collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder and his association with the New German Cinema movement. Lommel spent ...

. It stars

Carole Bouquet Carole Bouquet (born 18 August 1957) is a French actress who has appeared in more than 60 films since 1977. In 1990, she was awarded the César Award for Best Actress for her role in '' Too Beautiful for You''. Life and career Bouquet was bor ...

Richard Hell Richard Lester Meyers (born October 2, 1949), better known by his stage name Richard Hell, is an American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist and writer. Hell was in several important early punk rock bands, including Neon Boys, Television (band), ...

, and

Suzanna Love Suzanna Potter Love (born April 8, 1950) is an American former actress and screenwriter known for her collaborations with her husband, director Ulli Lommel, in the 1980s. She starred in Lommel's supernatural slasher film '' The Boogeyman'' (1980) ...

.Debi Moore (25 March 2010)
"Motion Picture Purgatory: Blank Generation"
''www.dreadcentral.com.'' Retrieved 6 June 2021.

Plot

French journalist Nada Lumiere and rising New York City musician Billy have a volatile relationship, frequently fighting and breaking up and then reuniting shortly after. Both have a detached approach to relationships, with Billy prone to violent mood swings and Nada often preferring to communicate with Billy via videotapes she films of herself. Billy and his band have signed with Jack and his financial backer Kellerman for an overall management and record deal, but Billy endangers it by abandoning a concert performance. Nada takes an extended break from Billy, claiming to be out of town on an assignment, to reconnect with an earlier lover and journalist colleague, Hoffritz, who comes to New York pursuing an interview with artist Andy Warhol. In her absence, Billy grows so disillusioned with the trappings of his increasing success by signing away all his rights and royalties to Jack, and letting himself get caught up with another woman, a flaky aspiring documentarian named Lizzy. Nada finds herself no more content with Hoffritz as she was with Billy, as he is continually stymied in his attempts to connect with Warhol, who finds coy ways to dodge the interview. A mutual friend tips off Billy that Nada is still in the city, and he crashes a birthday party for her thrown by Jack, with Lizzy in tow, which rekindles her attraction to him. After sending a dubious associate to their TV studio in his place, Warhol finally shows up for the interview. He initially sits silent to Hoffritz's questions, frustrating him, but Nada is able to coax him to expound about film, vanity and fame. Nada tells Hoffritz she intends to return to Europe with him, and has Billy drive her to the airport, where she declares they are breaking up. However, upon entering the terminal, she changes her mind and tries to return, but Billy has already driven off. In turn, Hoffritz has already boarded the plane. It is suggested both Nada and Billy are still stuck in their own emotional blankness.

Cast

as Nada *

as Billy *

as Hoffritz *

as Lizzy *Howard Grant as Jack *Ben Weiner as Kellerman *

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...

as Himself * Robert Madero as Harry *Bill Mirring as Jonathan Marlowe *David Pirrock as Bobby Butler *J. Frank Butler as Bobby's Father *

Ivan Julian Ivan Julian (born June 26, 1955) is a guitarist, singer-songwriter, and founding member of Richard Hell and the Voidoids and Lovelies. He has also performed with The Isley Brothers, The Clash, Matthew Sweet, The Bongos, Richard Barone, and Shr ...

as member of the Voidoids *

Robert Quine Robert Wolfe Quine (December 30, 1942 – May 31, 2004) was an American guitarist. A native of Akron, Ohio, Quine worked with a wide range of musicians, though he himself remained relatively unknown. Critic Mark Deming wrote that "Quine's eclect ...

as member of the Voidoids * Mark Bell as member of the Voidoids *Walter Steading as a violin player

Soundtrack

Acclaimed composer

Elliot Goldenthal Elliot Goldenthal (born May 2, 1954) is an American composer of contemporary classical music and film and theatrical scores. A student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, he is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend variou ...

composed music for the film. All songs were written by Richard Hell and performed by

Richard Hell and the Voidoids Richard Hell and the Voidoids were an American punk rock band, formed in New York City in 1976 and fronted by Richard Hell, a former member of the Neon Boys, Television (band), Television and the Heartbreakers. History Kentucky-born Richard H ...

References

External links

* 1980 films Films set in New York City Films directed by Ulli Lommel American musical films Films scored by Elliot Goldenthal 1980 musical films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language musical films {{musical-film-stub