Watch Lick the Star

Lick the Star is a 1998 black and white movie that tells the story of a group of four girls who plot revenge on their schoolmates in one of the most unique coming-of-age stories told on screen. Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film takes the audience through a journey that explores themes of gender and power, teenage friendship, and youth rebellion. The movie was released on October 1, 1998, and starred Christina Turley, Audrey Kelly, and Julia Vanderham. The film opens with an introduction to the lead character, Nadine (Christina Turley), a disenchanted high school student who is struggling to cope with a number of different teenage issues. She is surrounded by her close friends, including Jessica (Audrey Kelly), Kim (Julia Vanderham), and Sarah (Gina Philips). The girls seem to hang out with each other mostly due to their shared disinterest in their school life and their social exclusion from the rest of the school. Nadine and her friends find themselves becoming increasingly disillusioned with their school's social hierarchy, which seems to reward the most popular girls with power and attention. Feeling powerless to change things, the girls hatch a plan to get revenge on the popular girls, who they see as unjustly holding all the power and attention. The plot focuses on the girls gaining power through the use of a potion that they plan to administer to a group of girls who are considered the most popular in their school. The potion, which is made from aspirin, food dye, and a variety of household chemicals, has the effect of making the girls ill, and causes them to be unable to return to school for several days. As the plot develops, the girls' power over the school begins to grow, as the girls they targeted become almost entirely outcast from their social circles. The girls come to realize that their plan has worked, and that they can now use their status to gain greater control over their peers. They become what they used to hate; the queen bees that they previously criticized and resented. Lick the Star is a movie that is not just about revenge but also about the challenges of belonging and acceptance that accompany adolescence. The movie is also a commentary on how teenage girls tend to police each other, being both the oppressed and the oppressors. In creating a toxic environment around adolescence, the movie seeks to highlight how high school social structures can be cruel and exclusionary. The cinematography is striking in black and white, with Sofia Coppola's signature contemplative visuals. The brilliant combination of symbolism and metaphorical imagery makes the movie fascinating to watch, especially for those who enjoy unpacking deeper meaning. The film is anchored by fantastic performances by Christina Turley and Audrey Kelly, who play Nadine and Jessica, the two driving forces behind the plot to overthrow the popular girls. The pair has an amazing onscreen chemistry, both appearing to understand each other without words. Overall, Lick the Star is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and visually beautiful movie that will leave you with a lot to unpack. It is a reflection on the power dynamics of high school that speaks to those who may have felt isolated or excluded during their teenage years. It is also a rare opportunity to see the early work of a young Sofia Coppola, who expertly explores themes that would come to define much of her later work. If you love indie movies and Sofia Coppola, then Lick the Star is the perfect movie for you.