L7
Pretend We’re Dead
BLUE HATS CREATIVE / MVD
9/10
GODDESSES OF GRUNGE DOCUMENTARY: Very few rock docs cut to the soul of a band quite like Pretend We’re Dead. The auspicious rise, fall, and resurrection of pioneering grunge act L7 was part triumph and tragedy and one that demanded a proper telling. Narrated by original members Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner, Jennifer Finch, and Demetra Plakas, and intercut with exclusive interviews from giants of the rock world, including Shirley Manson of Garbage, Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, and Joan Jett, Pretend We’re Dead is a raw, at times touching and always in-your-face travel log of the all-female rock quartet that defied convention and stereotype, who pioneered and trailblazed for the next wave of women in rock. The film chronicles the band’s formation and move to the grunge Mecca of Seattle, struggle to crack into the mainstream, and international successes and controversies. Director Sarah Price blends never before seen home footage, concert reels, and intimate photos to create a compelling timeline from start to stop. For grunge buffs who lived through the rise and fall of the genre, Pretend We’re Dead is a frenzied acid trip down memory lane that packs a wallop of emotions. Perhaps more importantly, Pretend We’re Dead will have novices of L7 rushing to tap into a potential new addiction. ~ Dillon Collins
