Permanent Record (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Marisa Silver

Writers:

Jarre Fees (writer)
Larry Ketron (writer)

Release Date:

22 April 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

High school. Senior year. His suicide shattered their world. Their courage drove them to pick up the pieces.

Plot:

When David Sinclair, a popular and talented high school student commits suicide, his best friend Chris...

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Friend | High School | Band | H.m.s. Pinafore

Cast

Pamela Gidley	...	Kim
Alan Boyce	...	David Sinclair
Michael Elgart	...	Jake
Jennifer Rubin	...	Lauren
Michelle Meyrink	...	M.G.
Keanu Reeves	...	Chris Townsend
Phil Diskin	...	Security Guard
Lou Reed	...	Himself
Garrett Lambert	...	Producer
Richard Bradford	...	Leo Verdell
Carolyn Tomei	...	Chemistry Teacher
Ron Eckert	...	Sailors Audition (as Ronald John Eckert)
Robert Hooven	...	Sailors Audition
Nick Kosovich	...	Sailors Audition
Sean Patrick McNerney	...	Sailors Audition

Runtime:

91 min | West Germany:88 min (video)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | West Germany:16 | Iceland:L | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Benson High School - 546 NE 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Quotes:

David: You have a Dad?
Chris: Every once in a while.

Soundtrack:

Nefertiti Rock

Powerful

This film was way ahead of its time. In this day and age, teenage suicides happen often, and appear in the press. This is a movie, set in the 80s, and really has a powerful effect on you. To start with, I was trying to figure out why the main character decided to kill himself. It never really says. But the movie concentrates more on what David's close friends feel on his suicide. The film focuses heavily on Keanu Reeves character, Chris. He features in some of the film's most powerful scenes, and although he plays his Ted character, goofy and gangly, he really acts his socks off. He also features in an almost painful crying scene.

There's a terrific song, which unfortunately isn't available. It's worked on throughout the film, but it really comes to light towards the end. It's called "Wishing On Another Lucky Star", performed by J.D. Souther.

This is a very powerful movie, although it didn't leave much of an effect on me. I was expecting it to leave me with something at the end of the movie, but this kinda movie has been done better in recent years - The Virgin Suicides for example.