Cinema in the City is stepping back in time this October with a weekend of 90s nostalgia. We’ve teamed up with VideOdyssey in Toxteth, one of the UK’s last remaining video rental shops, to screen three coming-of-age double features from VHS that shaped youth culture in the 1990s and defined a generation.
Pump Up the Volume (1990) is a rebellious drama that captures the angst and disillusionment of suburban youth. Starring Christian Slater as Mark, a shy high school student who transforms into a pirate radio DJ, the film explores themes of free speech, teenage rebellion, and the power of voice in challenging the status quo. As Mark's broadcasts ignite a wave of unrest among his peers, the film becomes a powerful statement on the struggles of a generation longing to be heard.
Kicking and Screaming (1995) is Noah Baumbach’s directorial debut. This witty, dialogue-driven comedy chronicles the lives of four recent college graduates who are reluctant to move on from their academic cocoon. As they drift aimlessly through post-graduate life, grappling with relationships, ambition, and existential angst, the film offers a humorous yet poignant reflection on the uncertainties and anxieties of transitioning into adulthood. Baumbach's sharp writing and keen observational eye make this a defining exploration of 90s slacker culture.
