Movie Description
This jarring profile of Warhol protege, Velvet Underground vocalist, and unrepentant lifelong heroin addict Nico (nee Christa Paffgen) gives an insider's look into the strange, tragic, but ultimately glamorous life of this 1960s icon. Nico moved from her native Germany to Paris, becoming a fashion model at age 16. Archival footage shows a glowingly beautiful Nico posing for Vogue and acting in television commercials. She even played a role in Federico Fellini's timeless 1960 film LA DOLCE VITA. However, as the film details, Nico slowly deteriorates in the New York City scene surrounding Andy Warhol and The Factory. Interviews by director Susanne Ofteringer with friends of Nico such as Paul Morrissey, Jackson Browne, and even her son Ari Boulonge (whose father is French New Wave actor Alain Delon), shed light on Nico's love affairs with Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Jim Morrison. However, what comes through most powerfully is Nico's downfall in New York City's underground, leading to her loss of beauty, disinterest in life, and eventually her mysterious 1988 death in relative obscurity in Ibiza. Footage of the icon herself is nothing short of dazzling, while the story of her life is as fascinating as it is harrowing.
| Credits | | Producer: | Annette Pisacane, Thomas Mertens |
| Details | | Sound: | Stereo Sound |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailer, Theatrical release: November 1995
Some sources attribute Nico's death to a motorcycle accident while others say she died of a brain hemorrhage.
The unique narrative technique employed in the film, by which highlighted words appear on screen, is controversial among NICO ICON viewers: some say it is extremely effective while others find it overstylized.
There is some debate about whether Nico was raped as a child in WWII Berlin. Conversations in the film about her disinterest in sex--despite having had numerous lovers--refer back to this question.
Editorial Reviews
"...[A] dreamy montage....A study in thoroughness..."
Sinker
"...Ofteringer maintains a balance between the appeal and absurdity of this 'death angel' icon, weaving together elements in an imaginative package..."
Variety - Dennis Harvey (06/12/1995)
"...Utterly haunting....Enthralling and spooky..."
New York Times - Stephen Holden (01/03/1996)
"...Well-made....NICO ICON is an intriguing story of self-destruction..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (01/12/1996)
"...NICO ICON tells this story in a visual style that owes a lot to modern graphics and a catchy editing style..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (02/09/1996)
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