FUNNY, SHARP AND SURPRISINGLY MOVING, THIS DOCUMENTARY KEEPS US THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINED AS IT PROFILES THREE GIFTED MUSICIANS AND MAKES SOME ASTONISHINGLY POINTED COMMENTS ABOUT AMERICAN SOCIETY.
The Dixie Chicks (Natalie, Emily and Martie) were the top recording artists in America. They sang the US national anthem at the 2003 Super Bowl. Just two months later, on their world tour’s opening night in London, Natalie commented on stage that she was embarrassed that George W. Bush was from Texas, and everything changed. The American media called the Dixie Chicks traitors, radio stations banned their songs and the public viciously turned on them. Ironically, the Dixie Chicks couldn’t be more patriotic: all-American women with loyal friends, faithful families, bouncy kids and a passion for freedom of speech. Where their story gets truly remarkable is in the way they refused to apologise.
Even in the face of death threats, they stood up for their right to speak out against violence and warmongering. Film-makers Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck have a wealth of footage to tell the story with passion and immediacy—we’re backstage when the Chicks hear about the growing scandal and everything that follows. The film is energetically shot and edited, cleverly cutting between the momentous events of 2003 and their reunion in 2005 to record a new album, concluding with their return to London in June 2006. This is intimate footage that captures their spirit and humour, and keeps us laughing at the audacity, strength and courage of these women. Besides being a thoroughly engaging narrative doc, this is also a provocative, compelling, important statement. — Rich Cline.