'' Absolute Beginners '' is a 1986 British musical film adapted from Colin MacInnes ' book of the same name about life in late 1950s London . The film is directed by Julien Temple and stars Eddie O ' Connell , Patsy Kensit ( in one of her first mainstream roles ) , James Fox , Edward Tudor-Pole , Anita Morris and David Bowie , with featured appearances by Sade Adu , Ray Davies , and Steven Berkoff . The film was screened out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival
1986 Cannes Film Festival
1986 Cannes Film Festival
Absolute Beginners (film)