Hey there all you ravers... Harry here. So... you ever wonder about the San Francisco Rave scene? Is Ecstacy still the rage? What's this we've heard about de-fanging rattlesnakes and jars of vaseline? I don't know, but I think that's just a rumor... cause surely Ugg would have mentioned it. Here ya go, hopefully this film will make the rounds...
hey harry
long-time reader, first-time reviewer
this weekend, i checked out one of the first showings of the film "Groove," which premiered here in san francisco on thurday 6/8. it played at the lovely embarcadero cinema in downtown concrete-jungle sf.
"Groove" is about the underground San Francisco rave scene. a rave, for those who don't know, is, among other things, a big party with loud techno music, psychadelic visuals, lots of people dancing, many under the influence of designer chemicals. but a rave is more than that. at a rave, with all the right people, and all the right kind of music, there is an indescribable feeling of community and belonging. don't let the media steer you into believing in "raver madness": it's not just about drugs. OKAY? people go to rave parties and don't do drugs and STILL have an excellent time, grooving with their tribe and getting all of their pent-up dot-com ya-ya's out. a rave is all about community. some would disagree, but regarding the film "groove" the theme of community and tribal git-down is what it's all about.
the plot: the film follows the course of a night in the nightlife of several sf-bay-area 20-somethings as they plan for, prepare, try to find the location of, meet up, and bliss out at a rave in an abandoned warehouse in san francisco. there's David, the midwest-transplant who's never been to a rave (the token fish-out-of-water character); his brother Colin, the seasoned raver who convinces David to go; Colin's girlfriend Harmony, pigtails, glitter n' all; there's Leyla, the seasoned raver from New York who guides David by the hand; and an assortment of supporting characters, among them the guys who are organizing the rave, the DJ's who spin music, and some of the party people whom we get to know (too many to mention).
the music is really what makes this movie. it's loud, it's thumpin', it's fuckin' FLY, yo. don't buy the soundtrack; instead, get anything by DJ John Digweed.
the plot of the film is kind of predictable. they go to the rave, David has a life-altering experience, and they come away with a little bit of wisdom about themselves and each other. but there is more to this movie than a predictable plot. for anyone who's been to a rave (particularly in SF), you will recognize characters and situations that are unique to raves and that (to my knowledge) have never been portrayed in an american narrative film before. there's the candy-raver kids who dress all in day-glo. there's the one stupid kid who takes too many drugs and almost o-d's (but doesn't, just so ya know). then there's the portrayal of a rave "chill room," where partiers (mostly under the influence of Ecstacy) snuggle on a big pile of pillows. i am glad that these characters and these moments were finally portrayed on film.
yet... i'm also afraid that this film will blow the cover off a scene that is only cool if it remains underground. i'm hoping, for this reason, that "Groove" doesn't become a hit. i have my doubts that it will, given the free use of drugs in the film. also, the film is loaded with references to San Francisco that i don't think non-SF people would really get.
however, if "Groove" comes to a theatre near you, and you're curious about what the SF rave scene is like, then see this movie.
call me Ugg, The Wanderer
