Purple Rain - Rooftoppers

"Purple Rain" is a semi-autobiographical film from 1984 in which Prince stars as "The Kid," a talented but struggling musician in Minneapolis. The film follows his efforts to get his personal and professional life in order. He deals with an abusive home environment, his tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend Apollonia, and the rivalry with another bandleader, Morris Day. Ultimately, The Kid must learn to express his emotions and embrace his true self. The film is renowned for its powerful soundtrack, including the iconic title song "Purple Rain."

Thomas, our film programmer, about choosing ‘Purple Rain’ as the opening film for our Rooftoppers Outdoor Cinema: ““I never experienced the 80s myself, but watching Purple Rain gives me a nostalgic thrill, like I'm getting a taste of the excitement and energy of that era. It's fascinating to see the artistic choices Prince made during what many consider the peak of his career, though some would say he kept reaching new heights. He was such an amazing artist. I hope this film brings back memories for those who lived it and gives others a sense of how music and movies were so closely linked in shaping pop culture.”