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Review

Dee Mosbacher's (Straight from the Heart) latest documentary is a lively exploration of the women's music movement over the past 30 years that uses archival film, concert clips and behind-the-scenes footage and interviews to tell a story of creativity and politics intertwined. The film features performances from such greats as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Ronnie Gilbert and Holly Near, Alix Dobkin, June Millington and Fanny, Ferron, Meg Christian and Cris Williamson, Judith Casselbery and Juca, Marge Adam and Tret Fure. The film also gives us a glance at the current state of woman's music with performances from Ani DiFranco, the dyke punk Tribe 8, Melissa Ferrick, Sexpod and The Indigo Girls.

The movement's beginning is seen in performances by the Chicago Women's Liberation Rock back in 1971 and Fanny in 1972. But it wasn't until Judy Dlugacz and Ginny Berson founded Olivia Records in 1973 that lesbian musicians found a home where their art was nurtured, supported and indeed marketed. In the next year Olivia released Cris Williamson's brilliant "The Changer and the Changed" which sold 250,000 copies and woke the world up to the phenomena. Thanks to the hard work of these women, the entire music industry has changed and we have some great tunes from these legendary women.

Scott Cranin