Films & Events

Directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn, and Madonna in her first major screen role, Desperately Seeking Susan is a vibrant comedy-drama set in the heart of 1980s New York City. The film follows the unexpected connection between a bored suburban housewife and a free-spirited drifter, brought together through a string of mysterious personal ads.

A box office success and cultural phenomenon, the movie not only captured the energy of downtown New York but also influenced an entire generation of fashion, with Madonna’s iconic style spilling from screen to street. Critically acclaimed for its performances and its sharp reflection of feminism and yuppie culture, the film has since earned cult classic status. In 2023, its cultural and aesthetic impact was solidified when it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

1985. 104 min.