German youngster Stefan hitchhikes from cold and rainy Germany to Paris "looking for the sun". In Paris he gets acquainted with lowlife Charlie and mysterious Estelle. After a burglary with Charlie, Stefan follows Estelle to Ibiza where she is not exactly welcoming him. Estelle is busy with her friends, a proto-hip crowd of drug addicts, and with German doctor Wolf, her alleged lover and pusher.
At first against hard drugs, Stefan quickly turns into a major user himself. When Estelle steals some dope from Wolf, the couple goes hiding in the solitary luxury of a beautiful villa overlooking a desert coast where they spend a hot summer of sex and drugs, hiding from Wolf.
At the end of the summer, all Stefan has left is a major addiction to heroin and the need for a job. Who could be better to supply both but Wolf? When tragedy ensues, Estelle has already made a move out of Stefan's life.
The weakest part of the movie is the Stefan-Estelle relationship. Based on nothing more than lust, it seems hardly likely to inspire a tragic devotion. The movie does not work well either as a cautionary tale against drugs. It does not dwell on horrific details explored on later movies. In fact, it may even inspire a sort of nostalgia for a simpler past (minus the heroin) and lusty summers spent on desert islands. Nevertheless, the unadorned approach and documentary style work well for the minimalist tale.
My personal impression is that the bare settings were due to lack of funds. However, it should be noted that the soundtrack is signed Pink Floyd, albeit not yet a super-band (the main reason why the movie is still circulating) and Mimsy Farmer's wardrobe is quite nice and above the standard hippie clothes one would expect for her character.
At first against hard drugs, Stefan quickly turns into a major user himself. When Estelle steals some dope from Wolf, the couple goes hiding in the solitary luxury of a beautiful villa overlooking a desert coast where they spend a hot summer of sex and drugs, hiding from Wolf.
At the end of the summer, all Stefan has left is a major addiction to heroin and the need for a job. Who could be better to supply both but Wolf? When tragedy ensues, Estelle has already made a move out of Stefan's life.
The weakest part of the movie is the Stefan-Estelle relationship. Based on nothing more than lust, it seems hardly likely to inspire a tragic devotion. The movie does not work well either as a cautionary tale against drugs. It does not dwell on horrific details explored on later movies. In fact, it may even inspire a sort of nostalgia for a simpler past (minus the heroin) and lusty summers spent on desert islands. Nevertheless, the unadorned approach and documentary style work well for the minimalist tale.
My personal impression is that the bare settings were due to lack of funds. However, it should be noted that the soundtrack is signed Pink Floyd, albeit not yet a super-band (the main reason why the movie is still circulating) and Mimsy Farmer's wardrobe is quite nice and above the standard hippie clothes one would expect for her character.