Rave culture was always an inspiration for movie industry, whether it was music, the scene or drugs. In case you are interested in raving, here are some of the movies you should watch.
“Eden” (2014)
Eden is a 2014 French drama film directed by Mia Hansen-Løve and co-written with Sven Hansen-Løve. The film stars Félix de Givry and Pauline Etienne. The film premiered in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[2] It was also screened in the 52nd edition of the New York Film Festival[3] and the BFI London Film Festival.[4] The film’s U.S. theatrical release was 19 June 2015.[5] This is the first film of Broad Green Pictures ever to be released.
“24 Hour Party People” (2002)
So you want to start your own club. Here’s a piece of advice: don’t hire the “24-Hour Party People” band of mad idiots to run it, especially when they’re led by TV personality turned club promoter Tony Wilson (the never-been-better Steve Coogan).
The movie’s based on the rise and fall of the Hacienda, the legendary Manchester club that birthed rave culture in the late ‘80s. Fresh off the success of managing Joy Division and New Order, Tony invests everything in the club, and for a brief instance, it seems he can change the world. But scummy E dealers, mismanaged books, and one very expensive table lead to the shut down of the place in hilarious style.
Dance classics from A Guy Called Gerald, 808 State , Moby, and Mantronix combined with tracks by Happy Mondays and A Certain Ratio – from the UK’s Baggy movement – make this a fun ride down club history lane.
“Groove” (2000)
Groove is a 2000 American film directed by Greg Harrison. It portrays one night in the San Francisco underground rave scene. Through a single email, the word spreads that a huge rave is going to take place in an abandoned warehouse. John Digweed has a cameo as himself and also contributed to the soundtrack with Nick Muir, under their production alias Bedrock. Ever wondered what the underground rave scene in San Francisco might be like? If you don’t have the means to get there for the weekend, the 2000 movie Groove is as close as you can get to a SF night of raving. Groove starts out with the overall excitement behind planning the actual party in an abandoned warehouse. The neighborhood is studied carefully, making sure that ravers will be left to dance in peace, without unwanted interruptions from nosy, irritated residents or worse yet, cops. But as Ernie (Steve van Wormer) rightfully points out: “There are no obstacles, only challenges.” With one single email and a cryptic voicemail message, the shindig is set in motion, and the warehouse transforms into an orgy of laser lights and shiny, happy people.
“Human Traffic” (1999)
There’re a lot of reasons why “Human Traffic” is one of the best club movies of all time. It doesn’t need to shoehorn evil drug dealers and shootouts into the plot to make it cinematic. It doesn’t need to moralize why people like to party. “Human Traffic” understands a night out with friends has thrills, drama and heartbreak enough.
Cardiff, Wales. The club scene in the ‘90s. Jip (John Simm) and his close-knit group of friends shake off the chains of dead-end jobs and family pressures to dance the weekend away. They blag their way into a club owned by Carl Cox, discuss the intricacies of Jabba the Hutt’s criminal empire, and determine if ecstasy really does give guys a case of Mr. Floppy.
It portrays the chemical generation and all its unwritten rituals and experiences in such a beautifully well-rounded manner it makes you laugh and feel kind of special. Because this is a language only you and your chosen family will understand.
“Berlin Calling” (2008)
What goes up must come down. But when this movie gets up, it gets up. Fly on the wall footage captures banging outdoor festivals, subterranean Berlin clubs, and 2 p.m. “after parties” along sun-drenched rivers, all taking place under the techno spell of DJ Ickarus (real life DJ Paul Kalkbrenner).
But when Ickarus pushes his recreational partying too far, he ends up in the psychiatric ward. Cue his girlfriend leaving him, his record company dumping him, and his sanity starting to slip away. Will Ickarus get his head on straight and rise to rock the club one more time?
If you’re into the stark minimalism of German techno, the soundtrack recorded exclusively by Paul Kalkbrenner puts you on a dark, relentless train. Don’t expect to pop on this movie during a casual hangout with friends. It’s an uncomfortable, unflinching look at what happens when drugs take control of your life.