Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill and dance-punk trio Le Tigre, rose to national attention as the reluctant but never shy voice of the riot grrrl movement. She became one of the most famously outspoken feminist icons, a cultural lightning rod. Her critics wished she would just shut-up, and her fans hoped she never would. So in 2005, when Hanna stopped shouting, many wondered why. Through 20 years of archival footage and intimate interviews with Hanna, The Punk Singer takes viewers on a fascinating tour of contemporary music and offers a never-before-seen view into the life of this fearless leader.
The collaboration between Hanna and director Sini Anderson came about after the pair discussed the possibility of making a Le Tigre documentary. Anderson felt there was a bigger story to tell, and whilst Hanna has been quite vocal about subjects she’s been connected with – Feminism, The Riot Grrrl movement, her own personal story has never been documented on film.
The documentary features a plethora or stars, including Hanna’s husband Adam Horovitz (The Beastie Boys), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney/Portlandia), Joan Jett, Johanna Fateman (Le Tigre) & JD Samson (Le Tigre).
The Punk Singer will be screening around the country in May, including at the Showroom, Sheffield and the opening night of Derby Film Festival. Check with your local independent cinema, or here http://dogwoof.com/thepunksinger
