Foxes 1980

A group of four teenage girls navigating the tumultuous landscape of the San Fernando Valley during the late 1970s face deep emotional struggles. Deirdre (Kandice Stroh), a disco-loving queen, is intrigued by her burgeoning sexuality but finds herself tangled in a web of romantic difficulties. Madge (Marilyn Kagan), the introspective bookworm, wrestles with her unhappiness over being overweight and is frustrated by her virginity, compounded by overprotective parents and a pesky younger sister. Annie (Cherie Currie) is a rebellious runaway, succumbing to the vices of alcohol and drugs while escaping an abusive father who happens to be a police officer. Jeanie (Jodie Foster), feeling a sense of responsibility for her friends, battles with her divorced mother, who flits from one boyfriend to another, while yearning for a closer bond with her absent father, a tour manager for the band Angel.

The girls dismiss school as irrelevant, find their boyfriends immature, and feel substantially disconnected from the adults around them. They become engrossed in the captivating yet reckless ambiance of the 1970s, experiencing a chaotic world that mirrors the tumultuous nature of their lives. Seeking solace, they use parties as an escape, but their contrasting personalities create tension—Annie’s irresponsible nature grips the group with worry, while Jeanie struggles with the desire to mature and stop clinging to her childhood.

An unexpected catastrophe occurs when Annie’s erratic behavior results in her tragic death from a car accident, sending shockwaves through the group. This heartbreaking event proves to be a catalyst for change among the remaining friends. Madge, now married to Jay (Randy Quaid), the older man with whom she lost her virginity, finds a new direction in life. Deirdre abandons her reckless relationships, and Jeanie, having graduated high school, is on the verge of leaving for college, stepping into adulthood.

In a poignant visit to Annie’s grave after Madge and Jay’s wedding, Jeanie reflects on Annie’s quirky wish to be buried under a pear tree, “not in a box or anything,” allowing her friends to reminisce each year by sharing a pear and commenting, “Annie’s tastin’ good this year, huh?” This bittersweet remembrance encapsulates the nostalgia and sorrow of their youth, marking an end yet also a beginning for the girls left behind.