Sad Vacation

During the fall of 1978 in New York City, in the six weeks or so that British punker Sid Vicious and American girlfriend-turned-manager Nancy Spungen lived in the Chelsea Hotel after leaving England, nothing much happened. They had to switch rooms one time because of a smoldering mattress; they went on the Methadone program because they were addicted to heroin; they did drugs; Nancy might have made some extra money by dancing topless in Times Square; either Sid or Nancy bought a hunting knife; the couple partied until late in the night with a succession of friends, would-be friends and hangers-on; and Nancy got Sid one important booking, playing with musician friends at Max's Kansas City. At the end of the six weeks, Spungen was dead from a stab wound and nobody knew if a) Sid killed Nancy and didn't remember doing it; b) Sid killed Nancy as part of a suicide pact but couldn't go through with his end of it; or c) Sid was passed out when a drug dealer/friend/thief broke into their room and stabbed Nancy in a confrontation. Director Danny Garcia's documentary on those six weeks takes us into the Hotel Chelsea and gives us an idea of what life was like there in 1978. Garcia includes interviews with some of the personalities who were around at the time, and fills us in on the background of his deceased star-couple. But he can't offer us much more than that because there isn't much material here to document. Anyone who has followed this story already knows the alternative theories as to Spungen's murder, which are usually bandied about by Sid's friends who don't want his legacy to be sullied. I'm always amazed at how nobody considers the victim in this scenario. Telling us Spungen was suicidal, had a high IQ and was a handful as a child doesn't cut it. Nancy was a daughter and a sister and had quite a colorful life before she ever met Sid Vicious. But that's a documentary for another day. ** from ****

I have don't disagree with the validity of any of the comments nor the documentary except a key player in this story is missing. That is Sid's mother. Other docs have brought up the fact that she was there that night. I don't know if this is out of respect for her, respect for Sid or some other reason. But Nancy's relationship with her was said to be very toxic. It was rumored that Mum gave Sid that last injection after being told by friends not to because of the strength of the heroin. It just surprised me that this film made no mention of her & her influence in the final chapters of both Nancy & Sid's life. Unfortunately I can't list the docs that I have seen that portray this side, but they're out there if you're willing to invest the time.

I prefer the atmosphere of a 2009 documentary about this topic, because frankly it "stars" many of the same people just almost a decade later. However, the level of organization is actually helpful to understanding the entire case and incident, along with official police reports and legal documents instead of mere speculation or intuition. I would guess that Sad Vacation owes it's existence to the earlier, lower budget and decidedly more authentically punk Who Killed Nancy? That being said I'm grateful Sad Vacation exists because it does clear up a lot of questions that linger from other sources.

However just be warned that it sacrifices style in favor of a decidedly corporate sheen that is the polar opposite of everything the punk movement stood for (and continues to stand for).

It was also INFURIATING and DISGUSTING to listen to 60 year old Boomers rag on the memory of a mentally ill teenaged girl. Nancy was twenty when she died! She was between the ages of 17-20 when they knew her, she was barely more than a child especially having schizophrenia and behavioral issues, despite her intelligence she was very immature for her age - more like a sixteen year old, really. It's just revolting the level of sexism and the lack of insight some of these characters have in their old age. Obviously you want to excuse them because of their youthful drug use - but truly, the former addicts and all of the women seemed MUCH more affectionate, loving and understanding of Nancy's personality and life decisions. Of course it was the most self-satisfied, snooty, "look at me I'm a normie" old man just tearing Nancy apart, blaming her for Sid's downfall til the last ten minutes of the documentary. Absolutely disgraceful, and I'm glad this person has been exposed for the misogynistic narcissist he is (if he is still living) to the people who know him.

Sid - for all intents and purposes - likely had some sociopathic tendencies, there is more than one story of him killing a cat (one very disturbing and quite shocking) and there are reams and reams of evidence of him blinding people, cutting their faces open, and starting fights relatively unprovoked. I'm not dancing on his grave either, but come on ...how can anyone reach middle age and still be giving him a halo and Nancy the horns. As if.

First off, I really enjoyed this documentary. The pacing was excellent, and there was plenty of anecdotes from those who knew the infamous pair, as well as vintage stills and clips.

I'm not going to bore you with the particulars regarding John Simon "Sid Vicious" Ritchie and Nancy Laura Spungen as I'm fairly certain that anyone watching this documentary is, at least, somewhat familiar with them and their tragic end.

Though no new definitive information is revealed, some of the familiar events are elaborated upon by those who were friends with the pair /or involved in the events leading up to their demise.

Your not going to see any of the Sex Pistol alumni or the like, but you will hear from folks such as Sylvain Sylvain New York Dolls' guitarist) and Roberta Bayley (iconic punk photographer),

Overall, stories are told, conspiracies and opinions are offered, fingers are pointed, and both were painted in a positive, if not flawed light, but there are no new, concrete revelations.

Definitely worth a view and a perfect companion piece to "Who Killed Nancy?"