The Punk Singer

2013
7.4| 1h20m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 29 November 2013 Released
Producted By: Film4 Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.thepunksinger.com/
Info

A look at the life of activist, musician, and cultural icon Kathleen Hanna, who formed the punk band Bikini Kill and pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s.

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The Punk Singer (2013) is now streaming with subscription on AMC+

Director

Sini Anderson

Production Companies

Film4 Productions

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The Punk Singer Audience Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
2freensel I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.
Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.
runamokprods One of the many good things documentaries can do is make you aware of a person, a movement, a moment that you somehow overlooked, and help you realize just how important and how wonderful that person (or art form or whatever) was and/or is. So it was for me with "The Punk Singer". Not growing up a big punk fan, I missed out on Kathleen Hanna and Bikini Kill, and the Riot Grrrl movement. My loss. This angry, joyful, tough, articulate, crazy, sexy, insightful, funny, political artist was a major force in feminism and social politics, and if I came late to the party I'm grateful to the film for making the introduction now. The film can be uneven – some (not all) of the talking head interviews with others aren't very interesting - when compared to the performance footage of Hannah, or her ability to analyze her work and it's meaning in her own interviews – but I ended up inspired by the woman and the artist, and inspiration these days is in short supply.
capone666 The Punk SingerThe key to empowering women is to tell'em men are into empowered woman.Or, you could do as this documentary denotes and front a punk band.From her humble beginnings as a spoken-word poet, Kathleen Hanna has confronted audiences with feminist issues.However, it wasn't until she learned that she could reach a wider audience through music that Hanna's unique voice was finally heard.Through her bands Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, The Julie Ruin, and her outspoken contributions to 'zines, Hanna pioneered the Riot Grrl movement.Entrenched in the '90s music scene, she also influenced Kurt Cobain and Sonic Youth. But in 2005 her successful singing career ended under a cloud of secrecy. Insightful and engaging, The Punk Singer is a rousing portrait of an activist and artist few know, but many should respect.Furthermore, feminism and punk rock have a lot in common: piercings, hair dye and no mainstream acceptance.Green Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca
SoSickOfTheRain One of the best rock documentaries I've seen. Well made, you really get a sense of Kathleen Hanna, everything she stands for and all she's been through. It's not a glossy profile full of butt-kissing. You get the good and the bad. It's also a fascinating look at the riot grrl movement. Despite knowing the music, I was hardly aware of many of the details. It's about a lot more than just punk rock.This is excellent filmmaking, about a riveting subject, that made me pulling out my old Bikini Kill cds. In a nutshell, it rocks!
Hellmant 'THE PUNK SINGER': Four Stars (Out of Five)Documentary film about Kathleen Hanna; an iconic punk singer, poet and feminism activist. The film combines archive footage (of Hanna, her band members, people close to her and the many musicians and fans that she's inspired) with interviews (of mostly the same people) filmed in 2010 and 2011. It was directed by first time feature film director Sini Anderson and features many popular musicians (in recent interview footage) like Joan Jett and Adam Horovitz (of 'Beastie Boys' fame, who Hanna married). Not knowing much about Hanna (and being a big fan of punk music) I found the movie to be very informative and interesting.The movie follows Hanna's career from her beginnings as a spoken word poet, through her fronting two bands ('Bikini Kill' and 'Le Tigre') to her solo musical career (as Julie Ruin). It examines the impact she had on the punk music scene, as well as her many feminism causes, and how she helped start the 'riot grrrl' movement. We see awesome video of her bands performing live as well as fascinating behind the scenes footage and involving interviews. Through the movie fans can learn about her troubled childhood (for the first time) as well as why she suddenly quit music (and the medical diagnosis behind it).I love punk music and seeing Hanna perform (in this movie) I know I could be a big fan of hers and her bands. I also think she seems like a really beautiful, strong and admirable woman and when people like her develop a big following (and really inspire many others) that's always a good thing. So I really enjoyed learning about Hanna, and her music, in this movie. Had I already been a fan of hers, and known a lot of the information given in this film, I can't say I probably would have enjoyed it as much. The subject matter is fascinating but Anderson has a few more things to learn about directing and putting together a movie. Still, for a debut film, she didn't do a bad job. I was definitely entertained.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYWAOd_o4Sk