Interesting time when the film came out!

Watching Foxes years later, I am struck by what the previous poster has stated. In early 1980, it wasn't clear what the 80's would be about. Disco was dead, new wave was going mainstream, and the future seemed precarious. In early 1980, keep in mind that American hostages were being held in Iran, the economy was in the toilet, and even President Carter aknowledged that malaise was in the air. I turned 18 in 1980, and I was concerned about the safety of nuclear power (a year after Three Mile Island), I thought we were headed for war with the Soviet Union (they had just invaded Afghanistan and a communist regime had been installed in Nicaragua). The world seemed to be on the verge of war.

Divorce and drug abuse was rampant, and by the end of the year an ultra-conservative Rebublican was elected in a landslide. Did America want to return to old-fashioned traditional values, or did the drug & sex culture simply become more discreet?

It was a transitional time, between the sexual revolution of the 70's and the conservative decade of Reagan, and in this void resides Foxes.

Whatever was hapening at the time, the film is a gem, a beautiful example of what a good movie should be!

Ya never know what ya don't know, ya know?

I also think 'Foxes' is pretty much on-point. I actually grew up in the San Fernando Valley where the movie is set, and I was only 12 in 1980, but I had already experienced much of what the girls in the movie had, including the "cool parents" who would give us alcohol, ciggerettes, and pot. I think back to the time and wonder what those adults were thinking and why did my parents never catch on? I'm glad my own 12 year old is NOTHING like I was at that age :)
Nevertheless, I still LOVE this movie!

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I prefer Fame, which came out the same year. Better characters, better music. I like some of the fashion in Foxes but that's about it. The movie itself bored me silly.

I graduated from high school in 1978 and the clothes and music in this movie were right on point. The painter's pants Jodie Foster wore reminded me so much of some pants I wore alot. Teens divided into groups that smoke and drank vs. those who went further to smoke pot and do drugs is also how I remember things being.

When Jodie Foster's character is coming to see Scott B. while he is flocking Christmas trees -- the lighting and filming of that particular scene really catches a 'feeling' for me. Same as when she goes to see Madge at her boyfriend's place after the rumble.

I so remember being up an entire night 'doing things', and still having the energy, albeit a bit burned-out, to be transversing the landscape the next morning, a bit hazy and a bit muted after the night before. Maybe go through another day hanging with friends, wind down that night and then just crash (and sleep like a baby).

Oh....the energy we had back then. Mornings after a night of partying could almost seem mystical ("Misty Morning Stranger" anyone?). After a night of partying, it wasn't unusual to start the day off with a nice cold beer or a bloody mary instead of a cup of coffee (not talking alcoholism here -- at least not for me -- just the hair of the dog and one could be all it took to just get a little 'smoothed over' along with some smoke, especially after staying up all night -- you could literally party yourself sober). The only time I saw the sun rise back then was only after staying up all night first. It could be chilly, then the sun would start to rise, it would warm up ever so slightly only to cool again just before the sun was totally risen, and then heat would hit. At least, that's how I remember much of the weather in my small town in Califonia. You didn't want to go to sleep then -- it was a new day and you would start all over again. Maybe go on up to the mountains, hike around, snuggle with your current squeeze, etc.

In the winter time, I remember cruising with friends (usually as many would fit into my car) out in the country with the rain beating down, trying to find someone who had a house or apartment to party in and to get out of the rain. We would throw together all our change and soda bottles to have enough gas money to get us from here to there. At least one of us would be working at some part-time throw away job, and we would usually pool our resources so we always had something to do. You didn't want to be having your heart broken on those days by your latest crush, because sure as shootin' the most depressing music would blare out at you over the radio. There was always someone you knew who had an open door policy. Smoke was cheap. When it wasn't raining, if we all could scrape up enough dollars, we would barbecue and drink beer, and the smell of barbecue in the air still takes me back to those days. And, everyone listened to and appreciated good music in my crowd -- there was never a lack of that. We were listening to that and not 24-hour, round the clock news cycles of doom and gloom and yuck! We talked to each other face-to-face and not over computer screens.

Yes, we were floating around alot back then, but we were young and carefree and we didn't know then how long it would last or when it would end -- people soon start to get married and have kids, start to gain responsibility and get real jobs or go to college -- some don't grow up and their parties become nasty habits -- some don't make it to 30. But, for a fleeting instant, it was all good.



This film reminds me so much of all of that and that is what makes it real for me :)






"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

I was a baby when the movie came out. But , I think people called Foxes "realistic" and "accurate" & one of the best portrayals of being a teen in the late 70's early 80's.