The Foreigner (1978 film)
| The Foreigner | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Amos Poe |
| Written by | Amos Poe |
| Produced by | Amos Poe |
Running time | 90 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Foreigner is a 1978 American independent no wave film directed by Amos Poe starring Eric Mitchell with semi-improvised appearances by Patti Astor, Anya Phillips and Debbie Harry.[1]
Its postmodern faux film noir style was influenced by the French New Wave films of Jean-Luc Godard, and the low budget Underground films of Andy Warhol, Jack Smith and the ensemble casting of Rainer Werner Fassbinder and John Cassavetes. It also was heavily influenced by No Wave DIY post-punk style of music and contains an onscreen appears of The Cramps in a scene shot in CBGB's. The Cramps, billed as The Erasers (not the actual No Wave band Erasers) perform a version of the Iggy Pop/David Bowie song Funtime. Prior to that, Debbie Harry of Blondie sings a cappella a Kurt Weil song in the alley behind the Mudd Club. Ivan Král provided the soundtrack music.
Cinematography
This rather nihilistic 16mm film has a look of grimy glamor as it was shot on the streets of New York City on a shoestring budget with a small cast and crew. The dialog is sometimes inaudible while the black and white cinematography of Chirine El Khadem (with art direction of Sam Blank) is often exceptionally good, with some severe upward angle-shots of the World Trade Towers and artistic non-narrative camera work at the conclusion of the film as the protagonist (Max Menace} races on foot through the crowded sidewalks of Broadway. Also there are beautiful shots of the empty temporary beach on the site of what would become Battery Park City. Starkly beautiful scenes were also shot in the abandoned streets of the decaying Lower East Side.[2]
Plot
A Frenchman named Max Menace (played by Eric Mitchell in a white suit and black tie) is a blond secret agent who arrives in New York City on an unknown political mission. The plot remains vague, just as the reasons why many people want him dead. Regardless, boredom sets in as he waits for his assignment so he begins wandering around the city encountering post-punk women, weirdos and creeps. This wandering comprises the bulk of the movie, much like the 1964 Red Desert film by Michelangelo Antonioni. Here too, alienation thrusts the anti-hero into an unstructured and purposely-meandering storyline that ends with his murder at Battery Park with view of the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Cast
- Eric Mitchell (Max Menace)
- Patti Astor (Philly Harlowe)
- Terens Sellers (Zasu Weather)
- Duncan Hannah (King Bag)
- Kitty Sondern (Kitbag)
- Steven Kramer (Jimmy Uptight)
- Deborah Harry (Dee Trick)
- Robin Crutchfield (Mousebag)
- Anya Philips (Doll)