Slums of Beverly hills

Vivian, a teenager, lives in Beverly Hills with her poor family. Their lives change after Rita, her wealthy cousin, starts staying with them and becomes an inspiration for Vivian.

Initial release: August 14, 1998 (USA)

“Slums of Beverly Hills” was born to inspire a sitcom, and probably a pretty good one, too. It's about a poor Jewish family who moves by night from one sleazy apartment to another, jumping the rent but always staying within Beverly Hills to take advantage of the educational system.

Directed by Tamara Jenkins. A zany comedy filled with humorous takes on sexuality in the 1970s.

Writer/director Tamara Jenkins based much of Slums Of Beverly Hills on her own adolescence, and she goes out of her way to accurately address the dilemmas that many women face as they approach adulthood. Natasha Lyonne is excellent as a young Jewish girl suddenly coming to terms with big breasts, unpredictable periods, and sex in the midst of her wildly dysfunctional family.