Product: Filth to Fury [VHS]
Rating: 5.0
compelling, sympathetic film about u.k.'s most hated band
punk rock originally had almost no impact in the usa. it was a mostly british phenomenom brought on by very difficult economic times in england. the punk band that had the biggest impact on england was the sex pistols. the sex pistols viciously attacked (with words, music and outrageous publicity stunts) their society's traditions, morality and self image. in return they were throughly hated, physically attacked, beat up and knifed right on the streets of london. the british people hated them and wanted to kill them. all this makes for a very compelling true story. told as this flim is from the sex pistols point of view it makes their anger and resentment at their class divided society understandable and sympathetic. at the time 99.9% of the american people had never heard of the sex pistols. their usa tour was barely mentioned in the usa press. they never played nyc (media capital of the world). the people at the atlanta show (in the film) seemed to think that the sex pistols were some kind of glitter band. any suggestion that the sex pistols (or puck rock in general) was some kind of mighty force sweeping the country is revisionist wishfull thinking by people who were not around back then. punk rock never had much impact in america. still this story of the sex pistols is a weird, compelling slice of true life. highly recommended.