Nico, 1988

R

Released Aug 1, 2018

1 hr. 34 min.

Biography

History

Drama

Music

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List

94%

77 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Approaching age 50, singer/songwriter Nico leads a solitary existence -- far from her days as a Warhol superstar and celebrated vocalist for the Velvet Underground in the 1960s. Her life and career on the fringes, Nico's new manager convinces her to hit the road again and tour in Europe to promote her latest album. Struggling with demons and the consequences of a muddled life, she longs to rebuild a relationship with her son, whose custody she lost long ago.

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Critics Consensus

Nico, 1988 takes an absorbing -- and appropriately idiosyncratic -- look at the singer's later years.

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william k

Remarkable bio-pic successfully focuses on the last year of the singer Nico/Christa Päffgen, a complex, controversial, but also fascinating character with Trine Dyrholm giving a breathtakingly convincing performance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

David F

In an age of shiny, over-produced musical biographies it's a small miracle that a film like this film was made. I love how Nico 1988 focuses on Nico's less glamorous late-career, and I love the warts-and-all approach they use to do it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/22

Full Review

isla s

This is a quirky biographical music centered drama film about the last year of Nicos life. Its quite an arty, almost clinical and haunting type film at times - for one thing, it has some nice cinematography, interesting camerawork and the central performance by Trine Dyrholm I thought was really quite good. She does seem like someone who has lost her way, who has a lot to work through. I should say I wasn't familiar with the real life story this film portrays. While she undoubtedly made mistakes, I felt concerned for her and curious to see her perform her music to audiences, to get a feel for her 'hey-day'. This is a sad and emotional watch, with some poignant dialogue - its a thought provoking watch. I'd recommend this film to others, yes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Tinha mais potencial, principalmente dramático e familiar, teve um filho com Alan Dellon, que nunca foi reconhecido por ele, apesar de seus pais o terem criado e adotado, aos 16 anos o filho de Nico compartilhava com ela drogas e seringas, nascera durante a guerra, o pai soldado alemão, morrera na guerra, ela afirmara que talvez todos os alemães tenham nazismo na veia, ao ser questionada sobre, tinha muito sobre ela a ser dito, focaram num curto espaço de tempo, infelizmente, desinteressante…

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Why the acting is very good and everyone is committed to their rules it's a very dour boring depressing movie. Finally Nico's music isworse than the movie

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Kathy

Boring......and I love Nicos music. Very depressing

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/22/20

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Susanna Nicchiarelli

Director

Trine Dyrholm

Christa Päffgen a.k.a. Nico

Sàndor Funtek

Ari

Anamaria Marinca

Sylvia

Karina Fernandez

Laura

Calvin Demba

Alex

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Miles Ahead

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51%

Seberg

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88%

60%

Jackie

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70%

42%

Bolden

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69%

Colette

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Christopher Robin Is Pleasantly Familiar

Nico, 1988: Trailer 1

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Jonathan Romney

Film Comment Magazine

Overall, this kind of compassionate dismantling of Nico the myth is done with insight, tenderness, and clear-eyed realism.

Dec 26, 2018

Full Review

Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

Trine Dyrholm as the aging relic is superb, nailing down all the fits of paranoia, druggy ticks, and Nico's own fallen spirit.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 26, 2018

Full Review

Radheyan Simonpillai

NOW Toronto

Nicchiarelli and Dyrholm impressively fly in the face of that logic with a film that is eulogistic and hopeful.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 17, 2018

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

[Features] a striking performance from Trine Dyrholm as the musical icon.

Feb 13, 2024

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A gloomy film about the power of art as a survival tactic.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 4, 2021

Full Review

David Bax

Battleship Pretension

That's the psychological real estate Nico, 1988 inhabits as well. A portrait of alienation that's both heartbreaking and liberating, the film resists musician biopic tropes.

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Approaching age 50, singer/songwriter Nico leads a solitary existence -- far from her days as a Warhol superstar and celebrated vocalist for the Velvet Underground in the 1960s. Her life and career on the fringes, Nico's new manager convinces her to hit the road again and tour in Europe to promote her latest album. Struggling with demons and the consequences of a muddled life, she longs to rebuild a relationship with her son, whose custody she lost long ago.

Director: Susanna Nicchiarelli
Screenwriter: Susanna Nicchiarelli
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Vivo Film
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $73.3K

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