Punk music icons Lunachicks reunite after 20 years in Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks, an unfiltered, hilarious, and electric documentary directed by filmmaker Ilya Chaiken.
The film chronicles the enduring legacy of the all-female punk band, whose outrageous performances and unapologetically feminist attitude made them one of the most distinctive acts to emerge from New York City’s alternative music scene in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Featured in the documentary are the Lunachicks: Gina Volpe, Theo Kogan, Sydney Silver, Sindi Benezra, Chip English, Becky Wreck, along with Kate Schellenbach, Donita Sparks, Dexter Holland, Noodles, Gina Schock, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jeanne Fury, Howie Pyro, Jennifer Finch, Mike Bishop, and Guy Furrow.
Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks made its world premiere at the 2023 DOC NYC Festival and is set for release in select theaters in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, plus on digital on Friday, April 24 via Giant Pictures.
Packed with rare archival footage, the film follows one of New York City’s most legendary punk bands as they look back on their journey through the music world – tracing their rise from gritty NYC teens to feminist trailblazers of the 90s grunge era. The film chronicles the group’s rise from teenage outsiders in the late 1980s to cult punk icons in the 1990s, highlighting their irreverent humor, theatrical performances, and fearless challenge to the sexism of the music industry. Three decades after their debut, the members reunite to write their memoir Fallopian Rhapsody, reflecting on their history while rediscovering the bond that once drove their explosive stage presence.
Director Ilya Chaiken has spoken passionately about why the Lunachicks’ story needed to be told. Reflecting on the band’s influence, she explained: “As young women in the 1990s, watching the Lunachicks onstage was like seeing the fiercest, most invincible version of ourselves. Their story will resonate with a wide audience beyond just punk rock fans.”
Watch the official trailer for Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks above.
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