While looking for something different in Hollywood Video, I stumbled upon an eye catching movie cover. A brightly colored guy sitting in a subway seat holding a disco ball, which was almost as big as he was. I picked it up and started to read the back of the cover, which told of two lovebirds meeting up at a rave and their story of that night. I have never been to a rave, but I love all sorts of electronic music whether jungle, house, or trance. I figured "what the hell couldn't be worse than From Dusk to Dawn 2" and proceeded to check out.

The plain title of Groove is a simple truth that all the main characters in the movie are searching for. This movie is about the rave subculture and their search for a night of release through dance, music, and, for some, drugs. The movie does not have a main character, but a set of them that the audience is treated to over the course of a night's events.

The back cover of the movie is misleading: while it is true that the search for that special someone or love in general is in the movie, it isn't limited to just one couple, but three. We have Colin and Harmony; Colin wants to propose to Harmony at the Rave. We have his older brother David who has never been to a rave and is portrayed as the stiff corporate ladder climber. He struggles to find something inside that makes him feel alive. This comes from his first rave experience and his chance meeting with recently relocated Leyla. Then there is the couple of Aaron and Neil who want to celebrate their anniversary by hearing their favorite DJ John Digweed spin at the rave.

The movie was written and directed by Greg Harrison and, while released by Sony Classic Pictures, is a very independent film. Harrison tried to recreate a bit of his own youth experiences of the rave scene as well as tackle some hard issues affecting the current state of the scene. These issues include drug use, in the era of the ever-popular E or Ecstasy, and the views that most of the populace have on the scene.

The movie begins with a crew led by Ernie, who have infiltrated an abandoned warehouse in San Francisco and are preparing it for a Rave. The emails go out to bulletin boards and email lists across the Internet. Directions are given, and people begin to spread the word that a party is on. The movie tries to reflect what people, usually teens, are doing in cities across the United States. Ernie is an organizer and gets DJ's to spin the party, decorations, water and food for the ravers. He is the guy that wants to provide a haven for people to come to enjoy themselves and hopefully discover something about themselves in the process. We see during the course of the movie how much hassle it is for him to set these things up and the danger with the law, but his reasoning is sound. This is how he wants to impact people, this is how he changes their lives for the better.

We see no mention of drugs but inevitably they arrive with the ravers; E proliferates with Nitrous Oxide and the usual Marijuana. We see those who are responsible users who use the drug to enhance their fun, and we see the sad characters like Joe who abuse everything in reach. The 90-minute film tries to show that, while drug use is an occurrence at raves, it is not the only thing that occurs. He emphasizes the search for unity among teens that raves provide. While drug use does run high at these events, almost all parties have some form of drug use by members. He also examines the almost spiritual release of music through the self-expression of dance and fashion. We see the need to just let go of all concerns, to blow off the everyday steam in a night of dancing. Some do Zen meditation; others work out; some rave till dawn.

This theme is carried through the movie with the talents of real DJ's some from the San Francisco Bay Area such as DJ Polywog, Forest Green, WishFM, DJ Monty Luke and DJ Snaz (played by the real DJ Bing Ching). Also among the more notable is internationally acclaimed DJ John Digweed. His spin session climaxes the movie with his characteristic weeping sound. I defitinely recommend this movie if you're into the rave scene, or just an avid fan of electronic music. You just might find your own groove.

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Name: Bronze
Comments:
Um just so you know that weeping is a misprint its suppossed to be sweeping sound. DOH .......