Backbeat during the Melbourne International Film Festival always brings a diverse range of music related stories to the cinema screens, and this year I saw Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer and Mistaken For Strangers, alongside Good Vibrations.
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
I was in Toronto when the members of Pussy Riot were sentenced to jail time, a year ago this week, but I didn’t really follow up on what their actions and the charges were all about – I just knew that they had raised the attention of many feminist human rights angst, and called out Putin’s Russia in a really profound way.
Nicole grabbed seats for us to this film, and as I joined her the film started and we were walked through a final rehearsal of Pussy Riot’s punk performance number 4 - the one that led them to become a worldwide name and symbol for feminist and secular protest. Making a stand against the links between Russian government and the church, they have been thrown into prison for what really was a misdemeanor. A gross misplacement of their human rights.
The doco provides a really good look at the purpose of feminist punk movement that is Pussy Riot, and their acts – including the performance on the alter of the Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and their subsequent arrests and court trial for hooliganism.
With colourful balaclavas and punk music, this extensive group of girls have performed some pretty poignant protests, for which just three had been caught and charged.
The girl's families were interviewed during the documentary, with some compelling moments of pride and justification, as well as raw shock, shown. But the impact of the legal process and media attention on them all was clear.
It also takes you, the viewer, through their trial and allows you to see Nadia, Masha and Katia stand up for their rights, and what they believe in, in such a measured, intelligent and strong way in the face of the court and the media.
Despite the shock of seeing them perform on the alter like they did, the message and strength in their voice and convictions was impressive and powerful. Kill All Sexists, indeed!
Mistaken For Strangers
A doco by Matt Berninger from The National's brother Tom as he accompanies the band on their Europe and US tour for High Violet. Tagging along as a roadie, he takes his amateur filmmaking as a much more serious role on the road.
Rather than a film about the band’s tour, it was more a study on a sibling relationship, with The National forming a background to it. Captured is the sibling rivalry, competition, and differences present despite growing up in the same environment, within the same cultural conditions, and knowing the things each other knows, between the Berninger brothers. Seeing one brother’s struggles, and the other brother’s desire for the other to do well.
Of course, the other 2 sets of brothers that make up The National featured also, but really they were a comical prop in the story of Tom.
As a fan of the band it was electric to see footage of their live gigs peppered through the documentary. Goosebumps as Matt does his crowd-walking. Excitement as they tested out a new track, which we are now devouring in their new release this year. So interesting to see the waves of emotion from the band members before and after being on stage, and also the processes of such a tour.
It’s funny and raw and so utterly revealing. A brave release for both brothers, and as a The National fan it made me like Matt even more!
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
I was in Toronto when the members of Pussy Riot were sentenced to jail time, a year ago this week, but I didn’t really follow up on what their actions and the charges were all about – I just knew that they had raised the attention of many feminist human rights angst, and called out Putin’s Russia in a really profound way.
Nicole grabbed seats for us to this film, and as I joined her the film started and we were walked through a final rehearsal of Pussy Riot’s punk performance number 4 - the one that led them to become a worldwide name and symbol for feminist and secular protest. Making a stand against the links between Russian government and the church, they have been thrown into prison for what really was a misdemeanor. A gross misplacement of their human rights.
The doco provides a really good look at the purpose of feminist punk movement that is Pussy Riot, and their acts – including the performance on the alter of the Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and their subsequent arrests and court trial for hooliganism.With colourful balaclavas and punk music, this extensive group of girls have performed some pretty poignant protests, for which just three had been caught and charged.
The girl's families were interviewed during the documentary, with some compelling moments of pride and justification, as well as raw shock, shown. But the impact of the legal process and media attention on them all was clear.
It also takes you, the viewer, through their trial and allows you to see Nadia, Masha and Katia stand up for their rights, and what they believe in, in such a measured, intelligent and strong way in the face of the court and the media.
Despite the shock of seeing them perform on the alter like they did, the message and strength in their voice and convictions was impressive and powerful. Kill All Sexists, indeed!
Mistaken For Strangers
A doco by Matt Berninger from The National's brother Tom as he accompanies the band on their Europe and US tour for High Violet. Tagging along as a roadie, he takes his amateur filmmaking as a much more serious role on the road.
Rather than a film about the band’s tour, it was more a study on a sibling relationship, with The National forming a background to it. Captured is the sibling rivalry, competition, and differences present despite growing up in the same environment, within the same cultural conditions, and knowing the things each other knows, between the Berninger brothers. Seeing one brother’s struggles, and the other brother’s desire for the other to do well.
Of course, the other 2 sets of brothers that make up The National featured also, but really they were a comical prop in the story of Tom.
As a fan of the band it was electric to see footage of their live gigs peppered through the documentary. Goosebumps as Matt does his crowd-walking. Excitement as they tested out a new track, which we are now devouring in their new release this year. So interesting to see the waves of emotion from the band members before and after being on stage, and also the processes of such a tour.
It’s funny and raw and so utterly revealing. A brave release for both brothers, and as a The National fan it made me like Matt even more!
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