MovieChat Forums > Performance (1970) Discussion > Anyone seen Ciao! Manhattan?

Anyone seen Ciao! Manhattan?

posted 14 years ago by Child_OfThe_Moon
2 replies | jump to latest

Released in 1972, (also made a few years earlier) it centres upon a former star who has lost touch with reality, having degenerated into drug abuse and hopelessly trying to regain her former status (the actress, Edie Sedgwick, plays herself under a different name). The cinematography and dialogue share a similar style as Performance, with some musical similarities (the same font is also used). It employs the identity crisis theme as well, going back and forth in time to the character's former life, and also involves an unrelated character who enters her world and leaves having matured. Similar to how Brian Jones, Turner's inspiration, died during filming, Edie died during filming, marking her character's death at the end. Coincidentally, the soundtrack to Performance is seen among her possessions.

If you haven't seen it, do you know of any other films similar to Performance (preferably of the same time period)?

When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man

[–] BRAINIAC-2 14 years ago

I didn't notice the similarities but then I haven't seen "Ciao! Manhattan" in about 15 years. I did think that there were some scenes in the so-so Brian Jones docu-drama "Stoned" that looked like bits of "Performance" and I'm sure it was intentional by the director. Can't say it made "Stoned" a better film but at least the guy did some homework. I've seen "Performance" many times and offhand I can't think of anything else like it although there are many other good counter culture / pop art / rock-n-roll / underground films from that time period I could recommend if you'd like. "Performance", though, is 1 of a kind.

[–] sunznc 12 years ago

Well, Blow Up is similar in a way. And Christopher Gibbs, who was the design consultant for Turner's pad in Performance, allowed his apartment to be used for a party scene in Blow Up.
If someone loves Performance they may enjoy Blow up.
Also, people seem to mention Persona when talking about Performance but I'm not sure I see much similarities.