Amy Heckerling made her debut with this hit teen comedy, which she secured from the strength of her AFI thesis film, ‘Getting it Over With’. While keeping with the raunchy humor of teen films from this time, Heckerling brings a unique compassion and understanding of what it’s really like to be in high school that sets this film apart, allowing the characters to make mistakes and use poor judgement without punishing them. She would go on to direct other comedy classics including ‘Look Who’s Talking’ and ‘Clueless’

Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. At the center of the film is Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer who faces-off with the resolute Mr. Hand—a man convinced that everyone is on dope.

“Now, with a few decades of distance, it seems obvious that ‘Fast Times’ is one of the most distinctive directorial debuts of its era, and one of the most influential high-school movies ever made.” ~ Dana Stevens, Criterion

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