“Reality Bites” depicts a bitter reality in a bright and pop way, embodying Generation X

Works that are remembered as a set with music

``Reality Bites'' revolves around Relayna's setbacks at a television station and her relationships with Troy and the programming director Michael, but rather than the story itself, it focuses on the lifestyles and mental subtleties of each character. It's a piece that you can enjoy the overall mood of. The charm of this work is condensed in the opening credits, in which the four main characters discuss their thoughts on the roof of a building, following Releina's The Graduate valedictorian speech. In this scene, Relayna is filming a documentary, and the lines of her friends who are facing the camera convey the characteristics and daily life of Generation X. This is where Childress' script really shines. This documentary about Relayna, which even attracted MTV's Michael, smoothly moves back and forth between scenes from everyday life, and as a whole, the true faces of the characters emerge in an exquisite way. The era of 1994 is symbolized through specific depictions such as the fear of AIDS infection, excessive cigarette smoking, and oversized cell phones.

What makes these everyday scenes and casual interactions so appealing is their compatibility with the music. Those who watch the film will remember ``Reality Bites'' as a set with the song. One of them is " My Sharona ". At a food mart (convenience store) at a gas station, this song is played on the radio, and Relayna and the four of them start dancing (Troy is the only one who remains silent). The Knack's " My Sharona " was a huge hit in 1979, and its intense beat, rhythm, and powerful vocals leave an unforgettable impact once you hear it. Although it has been used frequently in movies and commercials to this day, many people associate `` My Sharona '' with ``Reality Bites.'' Quentin Tarantino famously tried to use `` My Sharona '' in the torture scene in `` Pulp Fiction ,'' which was also released in 1994, but gave up on ``Reality Bites.''

"Reality Bites" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

" Baby, I Love You Way " plays during the scene where Troy witnesses Leleina and Michael kissing in the car. The original 1975 version by Peter Frampton was used for the main story, but the soundtrack album includes a cover by reggae pop band Big Mountain. With ``Reality Bites'', it became loved as a masterpiece that surpassed the original version. The song was born in 1975, and the new version took its first step in 1994, which is in sync with the lives of Generation X.

There are other memorable songs, but the one that was used as the theme song was Lisa Loeb's " Stay (I Missed You) ." It was used because Loeb was a friend of Ethan Hawke, but this song actually plays during the end credits (and it's the second song). Despite this, " Stay " was featured in promotions and reached number one on the Billboard singles chart. At the time, Lisa Loeb was not signed to a record company. It was the first time in history that a player ranked number one under such circumstances. Both `` My Sharona '' and `` Stay '' are successful examples that are linked to the mood of the work rather than being remembered along with the scene.

Ben Stiller made his directorial debut with sincerity