16° TORINO FILM FESTIVAL
Special Program - Americana 2

THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: PART III

by Penelope Spheeris
Country: USA
Year: 1998
Duration: 87'


A documentary look at the lives of young groupies of the latest punk rock generation in Los Angeles - the lifestyles and environments where the hard and fast kids come from. Some of them are homeless. Some of them are squatters. There are interviews, reflections, and live performances of underground bands. Life and death is described among the dark side streets of Hollywood.

Biography

film director

Penelope Spheeris

Penelope Spheeris (New Orleans, LA, USA, 1945) studied biology at the University of California and film and theatre at UCLA. After working in television, she directed a documentary about the American punk scene, The Decline of Western Civilization in 1981, which soon became legendary. It was followed by The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988), focusing on L.A.’s glam and heavy metal scene; and The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998), in which her interest returns to punk rock. At the same time, she directed the cult movies Suburbia (1983) and Wayne’s World (1992), and a many comedies, including The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), The Little Rascals (1994), Black Sheep (1996) and Senseless (1998).

FILMOGRAFIA

The Decline of Western Civilization (doc., 1981), Suburbia (id., 1983), The Boys Next Door (I ragazzi della porta accanto, 1985), Hollywood Vice Squad (id., 1986), Dudes (Dudes, diciottenni arrabbiati, 1987), The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (doc., 1988), Wayne’s World (Fusi di testa, 1992), The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (doc., 1998), The Beverly Hillbillies (A Beverly Hills… signori si diventa, 1993), The Little Rascals (Piccole canaglie, 1994), Black Sheep (La pecora nera, 1996), Senseless (Effetti collaterali, 1998). 

Cast

& Credits

Director: Penelope Spheeris.
Director of photography: Jaime Thompson.
Music: Phil Suchomel.
Editor: Ann Trulove.
Cast: Squid, Eyeball, Spoon, Hamburger, Why-me.
Producer: Scott Wilder.
Production company: Spheeris Films Inc.
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