Flashdance: Little Pieces of Humanity – The Films of Adrian Lyne

Alex Owens is a fiercely determined 18-year-old woman who works as a welder by day and a dancer at a local bar at night. She has one all-consuming dream: to study at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance. This film follows Alex's struggle to gain independence, find love, and realise that dream. A box office smash that became a cultural phenomenon, FLASHDANCE was the movie that marked Adrian Lyne as a director to watch in Hollywood. The highly stylised visuals, pumping soundtrack (including the Oscar-winning song ‘Flashdance…What a Feeling’ sung by Irene Cara) and likeable central performance from Jennifer Beals makes this a bonafide 80s classic.

“A shockingly successful fusion of faux-grit and genuine glitz.” A.V. Club 

LITTLE PIECES OF HUMANITY - THE FILMS OF ADRIAN LYNE 

In a recent interview the filmmaker Adrian Lyne says that he looks for the “little pieces of humanity” when shooting a scene. Some tangible details that give his characters that extra dimension that an audience can recognise and identify with. Lyne makes movies populated by characters dealing with emotionally-engaging issues, often these issues revolve around relationships and sexuality, and are always presented in a highly stylish manner. But it is those persuasive “little pieces of humanity” that gives the films their edge. They ground them in a relatable form of reality and allow the films to resonate with audiences at the time of their release and beyond. 

This summer, Triskel Arts Centre presents a season dedicated to the work of Lyne, a British director who forged a career in Hollywood by making some of the most popular and talked about films of their time. We will screen his first six features: Lyne makes his debut with the moving coming-of-age story FOXES; the glitzy dance drama FLASHDANCE follows; 9 ½ WEEKS is the sensual and controversial relationship tale; FATAL ATTRACTION is the highly influential domestic thriller that was one of the highest grossing films of 1987; the criminally underrated psychological horror JACOB’S LADDER comes next; and the steamy drama INDECENT PROPOSAL was one of the most popular and debated films of 1993. 

 These movies will all be screened over six consecutive Saturdays starting 26 July and tickets are on sale now.