The Punk Singer (2013)

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.

Director:

Sini Anderson

Stars:

Kathleen Hanna, Carrie Brownstein, Kim Gordon

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathleen Hanna	...	Herself
Tammy Rae Carland	...	Herself
Kathryn Wilcox	...	Herself (as Kathi Wilcox)
Tobi Vail	...	Herself
Billy Karren	...	Himself (archive footage)
Becca Albee	...	Herself
Corin Tucker	...	Herself
Allison Wolfe	...	Herself (as Allison C. Wolfe)
Ann Powers	...	Herself, music critic
Lynn Breedlove	...	Herself (as Lynnee Breedlove)
Sara Marcus	...	Herself, author of 'Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution'
Carrie Brownstein	...	Herself
Joan Jett	...	Herself
Kim Gordon	...	Herself
Jennifer Baumgardner	...	Herself

Storyline

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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Plot Keywords:

punk | lyme disease | rock music | feminism | riot grrl | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

A punk csaj

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,729, 1 December 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$121,418, 10 January 2014

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Kathleen Hanna: I just think there's this certain assumption that when a man tells the truth, it's the truth. And when, as a woman, I go to tell the truth, I feel like I have to negotiate the way I'll be perceived. Like I feel like there's always the suspicion around a woman's truth. The idea that you're exaggerating.

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Soundtracks

Feels Blind
Written by Kathleen Hanna, Billy Karren, Tobi Vail, Kathryn Wilcox (as Kathi Wilcox)
Performed by Bikini Kill
Courtesy of Bikini Kills Records
From the album "Bikini Kill"

User Reviews

Much-needed documentary...not only about Kathleen Hanna, but of the indie-punk music scene in the early '90s

Excellent documentary from director Sini Anderson on Bikini Kill/Le Tigre front woman Kathleen Hanna, who dropped out of the music biz in 2005 after contracting late-stage Lyme disease (but who kept her disappearance mysterious, hardly disclosing her illness to anyone). A rage-filled college girl from Olympia, Washington, Hanna was a rabid feminist with a troubled childhood whose jagged fanzine art and spoken word rants eclipsed into musical genius with her first band, Bikini Kill. Although not for the faint-of-heart, Bikini Kill (three females, one male) were instrumental in leading the Riot Grrrl movement of the early 1990s. Testimonials from Hanna's peers (including members of Bratmobile and Sleater-Kinney, Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and Joan Jett, who produced Bikini Kill's most proficient EP) help fill in some of the personality gaps, yet when Anderson just allows Hanna to speak--and when the musician opens up, she's quite candid--the results are fascinating, most especially for fans. Also interesting: the potentially-explosive paradox of a young, hardcore feminist who finds true love (and eventually marriage) with a male kindred spirit, Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys. *** from ****