Boogie’s Night (2000)

Overview

Boogie’s Night is a vérité‑style underground documentary shot on Hi8 analog video during a chaotic house‑party night in Küsnacht, Switzerland (2000). The film captures the raw, handheld, late‑90s aesthetic of youth culture, improvised performances, and the unpredictable energy of the Zürich underground scene.

Two versions were completed in 2000:

• Official Release — 79 minutes
• Director’s Cut — 120 minutes

Both versions are now considered lost media.

Poster Gallery

Official Release Poster

Director’s Cut VHS Sleeve

Synopsis

Shot on Hi8 and assembled on VHS decks, Boogie’s Night documents a single night inside Zürich’s youth underground. The film follows the music, chaos, and improvised performances that unfolded in a cramped Küsnacht apartment, culminating in a spontaneous striptease by a heavily intoxicated Latino male with long curly dark hair — captured as part of the film’s vérité documentation.

Technical Workflow (Hi8 Accurate)

• Captured on: Hi8 (analog 8mm video)
• Transferred to: VHS (SP, Hi‑Fi) for editing
• Edited using: VHS deck assembly
• Screened from: VHS copies
• Survival status: No known surviving Hi8 masters or VHS tapes

Versions

1. Official Release (2000)

• Runtime: 79 minutes
• Format: Hi8 → VHS
• Post‑production: VHS deck assembly
• Distribution: Limited underground VHS circulation
• Status: Lost — no surviving Hi8 masters or VHS copies

2. Director’s Cut (2000)

• Runtime: 120 minutes
• Format: Hi8 → VHS
• Post‑production: Extended VHS assembly cut
• Distribution: Never widely circulated
• Status: Lost — believed destroyed or taped over

Credits

Director: SmiLee Grimwade

Cinematography: Hi8 (handheld)

Editor: SmiLee Grimwade

Production: Independent / Underground

Release Year: 2000

Distribution: Private VHS circulation