The makers of a planned documentary about the late X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene today launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for the film, and debuted a (very early) trailer for the project, which they hope will hit theaters in November 2018.
The film, “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché,” is directed by Paul Sng (“Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain”), and co-written by Styrene’s daughter, Celeste Bell, and Zoë Howe, who has authored biographies of The Slits and The Jesus and Mary Chain (the two also are working on a biography of Styrene, to be published by Omnibus Press at the time of the documentary’s release).
Bell, in a statement, says: “This film will be a celebration of the life and work of my mother, an artist who deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest frontwomen of all time; a little girl with a big voice whose words are more relevant than ever.”
The film’s creators describe the project:
“Poly was responsible for some of the most original, intelligent and exciting music of the punk era and beyond, but away from the songs, the look and that warrior-cry voice, her fascinating and sometimes frightening story, incorporating struggles with misogyny, racism and mental health issues, has remained largely untold. Until now. In this feature-length documentary, the jigsaw pieces of Poly’s life will be brought together for the first time. Original interviews, new research and previously unseen archive material are combined to present a thrilling, poetic and at times impressionistic portrait of a singer, seeker and mother. Underscored with Poly’s music from throughout her career, I Am A Cliché celebrates one of punk’s most uncompromising icons.”
The punk icon succumbed to cancer in 2011 at the age of 53. She fronted X-Ray Spex, best known for its album Germfree Adolescents and the anthem “Oh Bondage Up Yours!,” in the late ’70s before leaving music in the early ’80s to join the Hare Krishna movement.
She had, however, returned to music in the years before her death.
To contribute to the documentary, visit the project’s Indiegogo page, where, as is custom, there are a variety of rewards available to donors. The filmmakers are trying to raise £70,000, or about $87,000.
Watch the trailer below.
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