The Punk Singer

If you’re looking for a great music documentary, look no further. The Punk Singer, a doc about Riot Grrrl founder and punk rock singer Kathleen Hanna, is one you should go see.

When I went to see the film, I walked away feeling majorly inspired again--not only to sing and sing about what I care about, but to be creative and opinionated. It also reminded me I need to start taking voice lessons again--but that’s really another issue entirely.

If you’re not familiar, Riot Grrrl was a feminist punk-rock movement started in the early nineties that many coin as one of the bases of third-wave feminism. Hanna used her voice and her band (Bikini Kill) to sing out about the issues and conditions that mattered to her. In a world of fabricated boy bands and people simply craving fame, it was incredibly refreshing to see artists who truly wanted to spread a message and be themselves. I was glued to the screen as I watched excerpts of Bikini Kill playing in tiny clubs, saying whatever they wanted, handing out zines they had made and trying to make a difference. And putting feminism and political issues aside, the film does a great job of simply showing both the massive ups and downs of being a musical force and leader.

Plus, fun fact! Kathleen Hanna is married to Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and he makes numerous appearances in the film which is pretty cool to see.

The non-profit organization Cinefamily had a one-week run of the documentary this month and it became one of their most popular screenings of the year. The first night I went, the show had actually sold out. So if you don’t catch the movie in theaters, make sure to add this one to the Netflix queue. It is definitely worth it. Perhaps you’ll even be inspired to take some music lessons and write songs of your own.

Check out The Punk Singer trailer!