On Thursday, May 2nd, we rejoin forces with Roffa Mon Amour. To celebrate the Amplify collection, which draws inspiration from making music, Roffa Mon Amour will screen a film about one of the most dreamy 60s-70s music icons: Nico.
Music & film
Choosing a film from our beloved genres—music documentaries and films—proved to be quite the challenge. There's something truly captivating about glimpsing our music icons on the big screen or immersing ourselves in a romantically embellished tale of a musical artist.
Reflecting on the nineties, we recall watching Sonic Youth's '1991: The Year Punk Broke' countless times and renting classics like 'Woodstock.' Whether it was experiencing Oliver Stone's 'The Doors' in theatres or relishing a live performance by The Dead Kennedys in San Francisco on videotape, our fascination with the genre sparked during our adolescence.
In an era before the internet, connecting with our idols had limited options. We frequently went to live shows or devoured videotapes and DVDs featuring live footage or dramatised narratives about the artists.
When IFFR introduced the Scopitone program about a decade ago, we were captivated by its diverse selection of music documentaries. From soul to punk to Islamic religious chants, these films showcase that music is often a highly political and social experience, catering to a wide range of interests.
The unique setting of Scopitone inspired us to organise this evening with Roffa Mon Amour at GROUNDS. We carefully selected a movie about Christa Päffgen, known by her stage name Nico, renowned for her work on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico. The film delves into the last year of the German singer's life. It's a poignant, dark, and beautiful portrayal, much like her music.
Albums we’d like to suggest:
The Velvet Underground & Nico, 1967
About the film
It’s 1988 and Nico, formerly known as Päffgen, lives now in Manchester. Fed up with her past public image as a model and Velvet Underground collaborator, she embraces her bohemian artist era. Despite heroin struggles, the singer starts a tour in Europe, also performing in communist Czechoslovakia, where her music is illegal, giving an iconic subversive performance that will remain in history.
As portrayed in the film, Nico possesses an inner life as strange and haunted as her music. With her voice, she brings you into dark places of her troubled mind, always with a strong energy. The film's cinematography represents this contrast, showcasing the star in vibrant architectural locations and grey underground spaces in communist Czechoslovakia.
Tickets
Date: Thursday, May 2
Location: Grounds, Pieter de Hoochweg 125, Rotterdam
Regular ticket: € 11,00
English subtitles included.
19:30 doors open
20:30 start program
Drinks, popcorn and sweets for sale at the location.