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IMDbPro

Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché

  • 20212021
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
497
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
29,867
1,635
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
6 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyMusic
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
497
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
29,867
1,635
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Celeste Bell
      • Paul Sng
    • Writers
      • Celeste Bell
      • Zoe Howe
      • Paul Sng
    • Stars
      • Celeste Bell
      • Poly Styrene(archive footage)
      • John Lydon(archive footage)
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Celeste Bell
      • Paul Sng
    • Writers
      • Celeste Bell
      • Zoe Howe
      • Paul Sng
    • Stars
      • Celeste Bell
      • Poly Styrene(archive footage)
      • John Lydon(archive footage)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché
    Trailer 2:01
    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché

    Photos6

    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)
    Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Celeste Bell
    Celeste Bell
    • Self, also narrator
    Poly Styrene
    Poly Styrene
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    John Lydon
    John Lydon
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Johnny Rotten)
    X-Ray Spex
    • Themselves
    • (archive footage)
    Hazel Emmons
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Don Letts
    Don Letts
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Rhoda Dakar
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Ifrah Ahmed
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Kinsi Abdulleh
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Pauline Black
    Pauline Black
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Bruno Aleph Wizard
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Helen McCookerybook
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Vivienne Westwood
    Vivienne Westwood
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Youth
    Youth
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Lora Logic
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Paul Dean
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Rina Vergano
    • Self
    • (voice)
    Falcon Stuart
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Directors
      • Celeste Bell
      • Paul Sng
    • Writers
      • Celeste Bell
      • Zoe Howe
      • Paul Sng
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A documentary with an Identity!
    Up front I'll admit I was already a fan of X-Ray Spex from years back, and loved some of their tunes. Over the years I'd seen lots of references to the influcence that Poly Styrene had on the evolution of various strands of music in particular 'Grrrl Power' music from which there's been lots of great music.

    So this documentary was one I was looking forward to, and much credit to the creators of this documentary they have created a mostly honest documentary that shows her life from beginning to end. Led & narrated by her daughter, it takes us through generations that were unique in the pre-internet days.

    It mostly avoids hagiography although is partisan in its outlook on. The documentary fairly shows a warts 'n all side to her, as she made her mistakes as all do. This is no reality TV show with heartbreaking melodrama but a genuine story of a person, of an era and the good & bad that came through that Punk era.

    She survived, but sadly is no longer with us.

    Would I recommend this? To anyone who is interested in the Punk, Indie & New Wave alternative scenes, then I'd say very much "YES". It's no utopia but that's what makes it interesting.

    As said, it will definitely be for those from a certain generation and also who share a love of the indie scene music. A great honest tribute to a very unique & interesting alternative artist.
    helpful•1
    0
    • joebloggscity
    • Feb 5, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 2021 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Poly Styrene: Ég er klisja
    • Filming locations
      • Yorkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Generation Indigo Films
      • Polydoc Films
      • Tyke Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,544
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,506
      • Feb 6, 2022
    • Gross worldwide
      • $53,940
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

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