music from safe

Safe (sometimes written as [safe] or [SAFE]) is a 1995 drama/thriller film written and directed by Todd Haynes, and produced by Christine Vachon.

Set in an affluent neighbourhood of the San Fernando Valley in 1987, the film recounts the life of a seemingly unremarkable homemaker, Carol White (Julianne Moore) who develops multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS, also known as "Twentieth-Century Disease"). MCS is a medically controversial diagnosis in which a person develops allergic reactions to the visible and invisible toxins found in everyday household and industrial chemicals.

Carol passes her days with activities such as gardening, taking clothes to the dry cleaners, and attending aerobics classes. Her marriage is stable but devoid of emotional intimacy, and her son is actually a stepson from her husband's previous marriage. Similarly, her friendships are polite but distant.

As she goes about her routine, she slowly begins to develop unpredictable and strange bodily reactions, such as persistent exhaustion, uncontrollable coughing (when surrounded by truck exhaust while driving), asthma-like symptoms (at a baby shower), nose bleeds (when getting a perm at a hair salon), vomiting, and eventually convulsions (at the dry cleaners).

Doctors are able to isolate only one chemical she reacts to after she undergoes an allergen test; milk, which she drinks frequently in the movie without incident. Doctors are at a loss of how to help her cope or cure her. She attends some psychotherapy sessions but does not gain any insight into her condition.

After seeing an ad at her community centre, she eventually resorts to moving to the New Age/religious retreat in the desert called Wrenwood, which is designed to help people suffering from MCS recover.

"Lucky Star"
Performed by Madonna
Written by Madonna (as Madonna Ciccone)


"Turn Your Love Around"
Performed by George Benson
Written by Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather and Bill Champlin


"Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car"
Performed by Billy Ocean
Written by Billy Ocean and Robert John Lange


"Heaven Is a Place On Earth"
Performed by Belinda Carlisle
Written by Ellen Shipley and Rick Nowels


"Whenever I Call You Friend"
Performed by Kenny Loggins
Written by Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester

Andrew Richardson

Rolling Stone, June 2001


"This shot was part of a story we did with Madonna. The guy in the mirror is Andrew Richardson, who was an assistant stylist. Another picture I took of him eventually ended up on the cover of Italian Vogue, but he was never really a model. I shot him from time to time, and I think he posed for me just for fun, or maybe to meet Madonna! Next to him is Mars, a circus performer from Russia. He walked the tightrope."- Steven Meisel

Andrew Richardson styled Steven Meisel's tribute to dogging, featuring Naty Chabanenko. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Richardson Magazine.

Song of the Day: Get Into The Groove

Christophe Decarnin used "Get Into The Groove" by Madonna to close the spring 2009 Balmain show yesterday.

I love the contrast between Madonna's style & Rosanna Arquette's style in the movie: "Desperately Seeking Susan".

Rosanna Arquette's character, Roberta Glass (a bored suburban housewife living in Fort Lee, New Jersey, who is fascinated with a woman she only knows about by reading messages to and from her in the personals section of a New York City tabloid) favored Louis Dell'Olio for Anne Klein by day, Victor Costa for evening.

Madonna's character, Susan ( a wild city girl who communicates with her lover through the personals section of the New York Post) , chose Maripol bracelets, many gold chains and visible black lingerie for day and evening.

During the 1980's , I would spend a lot of time at my grandmothers apartment in the South Bronx. It didn't look anything like the Battery Park or East Village that I saw in "Desperately Seeking Susan". However, I did see a lot of artfully ripped, tight acid washed denim. And I could always hear Madonna blasting from boom boxes on the street. That movie still inspires me....and Christophe Decarnin's stylist, Emmanuelle Alt of French Vogue.

For spring 2009, the Balmain woman is a mix of both Susan and Roberta - a rich dangerous girl who wants to go out and have some fun.