Kathleen Hanna is a badass. Beyond scrawling the message “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on the would-be Nirvana frontman’s wall, inspiring the landmark single, she was a modern day visionary in the women’s liberation movement. But above all, she was the lead singer of the punk groups Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin. If there was ever an it-girl of the 1990’s, Kathleen would lead the way as a pioneer of feminist activism through rock and roll music. Director Sini Anderson chats with Kathleen in her documentary The Punk Singer and uncovers the hidden pain behind her effervescent smile.
If anyone’s deserves a documentary, it’s Kathleen Hanna. From her days performing spoken word poetry in college to playing onstage with her latest band The Julie Ruin, Kathleen’s story is an inspiring one with a powerful message for both women and men. Her influence on the punk scene gained supporters from all over the country; Anderson includes interviews from rock icons like Joan Jett and Carrie Brownstein to show just how many people she affected with her “Girl Power” mantra.
It’s not an over-the-top, pro-feminist film; it’s more of a super cool overview of the history of punk rock, told through the eyes of punk princess Kathleen Hanna.
Beyond the rebel, Anderson portrays Kathleen with all of her more humanistic qualities, showing her rise to fame with humility. Once she became a recognizable household name in the punk world, Kathleen collaborated with other like-minded women to create the online zine, “Riot grrrl.” This zine ultimately turned into an underground feminist punk rock movement that empowers women and is still going strong today. Although with her accomplishments comes heartbreak; Kathleen’s ongoing battle with an unknown disease is finally uncovered in “The Punk Singer,” and the outcome is both shocking and sorrowful.
In true Riot grrrl fashion, Kathleen used The Punk Singer as her platform to tell the world about her battle with Lyme Disease. She, along with her husband Adam Horovitz aka Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys, continue to struggle with treatment. Kathleen is not shy as she opens up about her experience living with the disease and how she’s grateful for her “second chance.”
The Punk Singer is a great documentary that should be recognized for its quality filmmaking and message. It’s not an over-the-top, pro-feminist film; it’s more of a super cool overview of the history of punk rock, told through the eyes of punk princess Kathleen Hanna.
