White Wall Cinema: Heartbreakers (1984)

It Is Still 1985 Brighton’s legendary 80s party (every Saturday at Green Door Store) turns 18 this year. To celebrate the night ‘coming of age’ White Wall Cinema are collaborating with 1985 for a season of films called ‘Sex in the 80s’ which continues this May with forgotten 80s classic ‘Heartbreakers’. 

Very obviously the key influence on Challengers (Luca Guadagnino’s 2024 ménage à trois tennis drama starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor), this overlooked, underseen, tender and sexy buddy movie about two highly competitive male friends (on the racquetball court and off), both chronically unsuccessful in love, is a true forgotten gem. Intelligent framing and lush, sensual ’80s atmospherics blend with a raw, confessional style to create something of a mini-masterpiece.

Based on the personal experiences of director Bobby Roth, Heartbreakers approaches its subject in the style of a European relationship drama while retaining all the textures of mid-’80s Los Angeles. It’s richly photographed by Michael Ballhaus, a longtime collaborator of Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Martin Scorsese, and scored by pioneering electronic group Tangerine Dream (Sorcerer; Thief; Risky Business).

• DOORS: 7.30pm*
• START TIME: 8.20pm*
• RUN TIME: 98 mins
• CERT: 18

*Please note – doors open at 7.30pm, Please try to allow extra time to get seated prior to the performance start time of 8.20pm. There will usually be no admittance from 20 minutes after the films stated start time. No hot food or alcohol from outside the premises is allowed. All alcoholic drinks consumed on the premises must be purchased from the bar as per the conditions of the venue’s licence