Girls Rock!: Meet the New Radiohead?

Shadow Distribution

Guitar hellion Amelia.

Details

Runs at SIFF Cinema, Fri., March 7–Thurs., March. 20. Not rated. 90 minutes.

Related Content

• Wild Flag: Fucking Fierce
  November 9, 2011
• Me, Marco Collins, Josh Kerns, and Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein Are Talking About the Difference Between Portland and Seattle Hipsters On KIRO 97.3 at 3 p.m. Sunday
  January 6, 2012
• Marination Station and Portlandia Not As Pretentious As You Would Think
  January 12, 2012
• Check Out Wild Flag's Carrie Brownstein on the Cover of the New Issue of Seattle Weekly
  November 9, 2011
• Get it Together: 10 Band Reunions We'd Like to See Stop by Seattle in 2012
  January 25, 2012

More About

• Shane King
• P.J. Harvey
• Kim Gordon
• Carrie Brownstein
• Britney Spears

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

"That girl thinks she's the queen of the neighborhood—I've got news for you, SHE IS!" Bikini Kill, of course, opens this fun documentary on the fifth year of Portland's Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls. Filmmakers Arne Johnson and Shane King have an agenda—Girls Rock! could do without the animated montages of Britney Spears usurping guitar-wielding goddesses like Kim Gordon and PJ Harvey—but camp counselors, including Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) and Beth Ditto (the Gossip), are anything but angry or strident as they mentor the girls (ages 7–18). The doc mainly follows Laura, a Korean-American death-metal fan from Oklahoma; Misty, who's just come from a group home; Amelia, a hellion on the guitar; and Palace, an uncannily self-possessed (and preternaturally stylish) vocalist. "San Francisco sucks sometimes/Go to hell on the Golden Gate Bridge!" she screams about going on a business trip with her mom. By the time each girl's band reaches the showcase (for a crowd of 700), you can see them developing their individual grooves. "I've been waiting so long to finally admit to myself that I'm amazing," says Laura, "and I really am."