Tonight I saw the best documentary I'll see in 2008 and probably it is the best movie that I'll see all year. Girls Rock is a documentary about a week long girls-only rock music camp in Portland OR. Some of the camp counselors are Pacific Northwest musicians like Sleater Kinney.
I have to say that I was a little bit predisposed to like it since a friend from the Slaughter County Roller Vixens roller derby league was briefly in it with her daughter who attended the camp during the time of the filming. The theater cheered when they had screen time. It was a good looking movie and the on screen graphics and animation was cutting edge.
I guess it is a feminist movie since it touches on the issues about self-esteem that girls face growing up in our society but at no point is the movie preachy. It was rated PG but I can't think of a more mentally nutritious and healthy movie to take your kids to, both boys and girls. It was a shockingly honest and fascinating look at the camp.
Over the course of the week the girls learn how to work together in a band, write music and deal with the issues that they face creatively. It was Judy Blume meets Blonde and PJ Harvey.
This is exactly the kind of movie that makes me glad that we now have an independent movie theater nearby. Girls Rock was recently picked up by a major movie distributer so there is a pretty good chance of it playing an indy movie theater somewhat near you and it will eventually come out on DVD. My girlfriend saw a little bit of herself in all of the girls in the movie. It honestly brought us to the edge of tears a couple times and cracked a smile for the rest of the film. It was the best documentary that I've seen in a very long time. Go see it and take all the kids that you can cram in the car. This movie was Full of The Rock!
Leave a comment