The Panic in Needle Park

After his stylized directorial debut Puzzle of a Downfall Child, Jerry Schatzberg unexpectedly plunged into the raw reality of his hometown, New York. The inspiration to shoot a love story between two junkies came from a series of articles written for Life magazine by James Mills. The heroine of this laconic and subtle drama, a student named Helen, finds herself homeless after an illegal abortion. Soon enough, however, she meets a charmer named Bobby, who offers her understanding and support – and that’s not all. Bobby drags Helen into the addict’s paradise called "Needle Park” (Sherman Square on New York’s Upper West Side), but by the time she discovers he’s one of them – a two-bit dealer and smalltime hustler – it’s too late. Helen starts doing drugs, selling her body, and helping her lover carry out his cons, effectively destroying any possibility of returning to her former life. The story concentrates on the gradual breakdown of the main characters’ personalities and the devastating effect it has on their relationship.… This somber motion picture dispenses with musical accompaniment – opting for a cinéma vérité style, it presents a tragic romance as a tale of maximum authenticity. Grounding itself in the environment of New York City’s streets, the film is conceived in documentary style while it benefits from the leads’ fine acting work. Al Pacino gives a stirring performance in only his second role, earning the right to work with Jerry Schatzberg again, in Scarecrow. Virtually forgotten today, the excellent Kitty Winn collected Best Actress at the 1971 Cannes IFF for her role as Helen.